Idioms

catch somebody on the hop

catch (one) on the hop

To encounter or try to communicate or work with someone at an inopportune time, such as when they are busy or preoccupied; to catch one off guard. I'll definitely help you with that report later—you just happened to catch me on the hop right now. If Dean was grumpy, you probably just caught him on the hop. A: "Did I catch you on the hop?" B: "Yeah, I'm sorry, but if I don't leave right this second, I'm going to miss the train."
See also: catch, hop, on
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

catch somebody on the ˈhop

(British English, informal) find somebody in a situation where they are unprepared: The early start of winter that year caught many farmers on the hop.
See also: catch, hop, on, somebody
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
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