nap (redirected from catching napping)

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.

See also: catch

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?

See also: dirt, take

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.

See also: take

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be caught napping

to not be ready to deal with something at the time when it happens Arsenal's defence was caught napping as Andrews chipped in a goal from the right.

See also: caught

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catch you napping

to be surprised by something that you have not given attention to I was caught napping by the last storm, but this time I've already got batteries and flashlights and canned food on hand.

See also: catch