catch sb on the hop
UK informalDefinition
› to do something when someone is not ready for it and is not able to deal with it: I'm afraid you've caught me on the hop - I wasn't expecting you till next week.Surprising and shockingMaking people sad, shocked and upset
(Definition of catch sb on the hop from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus
© Cambridge University Press)
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catch noun (STIFFNESS)
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catch on phrasal verb (BECOME POPULAR)
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catch on phrasal verb (UNDERSTAND)
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catch sb napping idiom
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catch sb off guard idiom
- catch sb on the hop idiom
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catch sb on the wrong foot idiom
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catch sb out phrasal verb (CAUSE DIFFICULTY)
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catch sb out phrasal verb (SHOW WRONG)
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catch sb out phrasal verb (TRICK)
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catch sb red-handed idiom
Browse the Thesaurus
SMART Thesaurus
Synonyms and related words:
- a blinding flash idiom
- a bolt from/out of the blue idiom
- amaze verb
- amazing adjective
- astonish verb
- confound verb
- creep up on/behind sb phrasal verb
- dynamite noun
- earth-shattering adjective
- expectation noun
- reality check noun
- shock tactics noun
- shocking adjective (SURPRISING)
- spring sth on sb phrasal verb
- staggering adjective
- turn-up for the book(s) idiom
- turn-up noun (EVENT)
- unbelievable adjective (SURPRISING)
- walk in on sb phrasal verb
- world-shattering adjective
Topic:
Surprising and shocking
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