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Meaning of catch napping | Babel Free

Verb CEFR B2

Definitions

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

idiomatic, transitive

Equivalents

Français prendre au dépourvu prendre de court prendre sans vert

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

B2

Upper Intermediate
This word is part of the CEFR B2 vocabulary — upper intermediate level.

See also

catch on catch on fire catch one's breath catch one's death catch out catch red-handed