Meaning of catch napping | Babel Free

Definitions

To surprise; to take advantage of the lack of watchfulness of.

idiomatic, transitive

Equivalents

Examples

“The rout started after four minutes when Chelsea were caught napping by Kevin De Bruyne's quick free-kick which left Raheem Sterling to fire in at the far post⟳ before Aguero, who had already missed an open⟳ goal, curled a magnificent right-foot finish⟳ past the stretching Kepa Arrizabalaga from 25 yards.”

“Still, a dozen men with rifles, and cartridges to match⟳, stayed behind when they filed through a white aldea lying silent amid the cane, and the Sin Verguenza swung into slightly quicker stride⟳. If the Colonel Morales was to be caught at all he must be caught napping, and, as they knew, he usually slept with one eye open⟳.”

CEFR level