be caught napping

1. Literally, to be discovered sleeping when one is not supposed to be. The security guard was caught napping at his post, so they fired him. The headmaster's son was caught napping on the job? Oh, great—who's going to reprimand him? Yes, I was caught napping in class, but it's just because I pulled an all-nighter last night.

2. By extension, to have one's inattention exploited or capitalized on by someone else. The other team scored because our defensive tackle was caught napping. This is a highly competitive industry. You can't be caught napping, or you'll fall behind. The thieves were able to steal thousands in merchandise—they must have known when the guards could be caught napping.

catch (one) napping

1. Literally, to discover that one is sleeping when one is not supposed to be. A: "Why was Bill fired?" B: "I heard they caught him napping at his at his desk." Dude, if the boss catches you napping like this, you're gonna be in so much trouble. Make that lazy intern work the reception desk. You won't catch him napping there, not with the phone ringing nonstop!

2. By extension, to exploit or capitalize on one's inattention. We were able to sneak into the building because we caught the security guard napping. I scored a goal after I caught their defenseman napping. Yeah, that move could work, if you weren't going up against one of the best goalies in the league. Highly doubt you're gonna catch him napping like that.

catnap

A very brief but restful period of sleep. I'm going to try to squeeze in a catnap before my next shift starts, or else I'll be feeling sluggish for the entire evening. We've got a pretty long layover before our next flight, so I'm going to try to catch a catnap at the gate. With a newborn at home, the best I can do is try to get in a catnap when I can.

dirt nap

A state of death or permanent cessation. He's got a lot of nerve to talk to me like that! I think he's looking for a dirt nap! The popular television show now appears headed for a dirt nap following the exit of its lead star. Don't worry, I'll make sure the informant takes a dirt nap before he's ever able to out our operation to the police.

go nap

To have five victories or scores. The phrase refers to "nap," a card game in which players take tricks after being dealt five cards. The other team's improved defense in the last part of the game is the only reason Smith didn't go nap. I was shocked when Miller-Jonson went nap today. He's not usually a big offensive threat. You have to have luck on your side to be able to go nap.

have a dirt nap

slang To be dead (and buried). A: "And what about the witnesses?" B: "Don't worry about them, boss—they're all having dirt naps." I really don't care what kind of box they put me in when I go to have my dirt nap. I'll make sure the informant has a dirt nap before he's ever able to out our operation to the police.

not go nap on

obsolete To not favor or particularly care for. Primarily heard in Australia. I don't go nap on such frivolity myself. I have always preferred order and discipline.

power nap

A very brief but restful period of sleep. I'm going to try to squeeze in a power nap before my next shift starts, or else I'll be feeling sluggish for the entire evening.

take a catnap

To sleep for a very brief but restful period of time. I'm going to try to take a catnap before my next shift starts, or else I'll be feeling sluggish for the entire evening. Julie gets up really early to do her writing before the kids wake up, then takes little catnaps throughout the day.

take a dirt nap

slang To be dead (and buried). A: "And what about the witnesses?" B: "Don't worry about them, boss—they're all taking dirt naps." I really don't care what kind of box they put me in when I go to take my dirt nap.

take a nap

To sleep for a short period of time separate from one's primary period of sleeping, especially in the middle of the day. I think you should go take a nap. You look like you're about to fall asleep standing up! I haven't taken naps since I was a child.

take a power nap

To sleep for a very brief but restful period of time. I'm going to try to take a power nap before my next shift starts, or else I'll be feeling sluggish for the entire evening. Julie gets up really early to do her writing before the kids wake up, and then she takes little power naps throughout the day.

catch someone napping

and catch someone off balance; catch someone up short

to come upon someone who is unprepared; to surprise someone. (See also asleep at the switch.) The enemy soldiers caught our army napping. The thieves caught the security guard napping. I didn't expect you so soon. You caught me off balance. The teacher asked a trick question and caught me up short. The robbers caught Ann off balance and stole her purse.

take a dirt nap

Sl. to die and be buried. I don't want to end up taking a dirt nap during this operation. Isn't Tom a little young to take a dirt nap?

take a nap

to have a brief period of sleep. I took a short nap just after lunch. The baby takes a long nap each afternoon.

catch napping

Surprise, take unawares. This term is often used in the passive, as in The United States was really caught napping the day the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. It originated in the mid-1500s as to be taken napping. Also see under off guard.

be caught napping

If someone is caught napping, they suffer a disadvantage by not being prepared for something when it happens. The security services were clearly caught napping and their response was therefore inadequate. European firms have been caught napping. As a result, they barely control one-tenth of the world market. Note: `Napping' means the same as sleeping or dozing.

go nap

1 win all the matches or games in a series. 2 risk everything in one attempt.

not go nap on

not be too keen on; not care much for. Australian informal

Nap is the name of a card game resembling whist in which a player attempts to take all five tricks. Its original name was Napoleon .

catch someone napping

(of an action or event) find someone off guard and unprepared to respond. informal

catch somebody ˈnapping

(informal) find somebody not prepared or not paying attention, and perhaps gain an advantage over them as a result: Chelsea’s defence was caught napping in the final moments of the game when Jones scored his second goal for Liverpool.

Nap means ‘sleep’, usually for a short time and especially during the day.

take a dirt nap

tv. to die and be buried. I don’t want to end up taking a dirt nap during this operation.

napping, to be caught/catch

To be surprised off guard, taken unawares. This term began life in the sixteenth century as to be taken napping. “Take Nappynge as Mosse toke his Meare” was the title of a 1569 ballad. The term was included in John Ray’s proverb collection of 1670, in which Ray commented, “Who this Moss was is not very material to know. I suppose some such man might find his mare dead, and taking her to be only asleep, might say, ‘Have I caught you napping?’” Yet Shakespeare and other sixteenth-century writers used the phrase in the modern sense of taking someone unawares; “Nay, I have ta’en you napping, gentle love,” Tranio says to Bianca (The Taming of the Shrew, 4.2).