caught

be caught in the crossfire

to be badly affected by a situation where two people or groups are arguing with each other. Unhappy children are often caught in the crossfire of arguing parents. (often + of) She became caught in the crossfire between two bosses with different ideas about what her job involved. (often + between)

See also: crossfire

be caught in the middle

to be in a difficult situation because two people who you know well are arguing and both of them criticize each other to you. My mother and sister are always arguing and I find myself caught in the middle.

See also: middle

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: nap

be caught short

1. to have a sudden urgent need to go to the toilet. You should go to the toilet before you leave. You don't want to be caught short on the journey.

2. to suddenly find you are not prepared for a situation, especially to be without money when you need it. I'm caught short. Can you you lend me some money so I can pay for my lunch?

See also: short

be caught with your pants/trousers down

1. to be suddenly discovered doing something that you did not want other people to know about, especially having sex. Apparently he was caught with his pants down. His wife came home to find him in bed with the neighbour.

2. to be asked to do or say something that you are not prepared for. He asked me where I'd been the previous evening and I was caught with my trousers down.

See also: down, pant, trouser

be like a deer/rabbit caught in the headlights

to be so frightened or surprised that you cannot move or think. Each time they asked him a question he was like a deer caught in the headlights.

See also: like, rabbit

fall between two stools (mainly British, mainly British)

if something falls between two stools, it fails because it is neither one type of thing nor another and if someone falls between two stools, they fail because they try to combine two different types of thing that cannot be combined. For me, it fell between two stools, being neither romantic fiction nor serious literature. If you try to organize an event that will appeal to both young and old, you can end up caught between two stools.

See also: between, fall, stool, two

wouldn't be caught/seen dead (informal)

if someone wouldn't be seen dead in a particular place or doing a particular thing, they would never do it, usually because it would be too embarrassing. John's dad won't go to the christening, he wouldn't be seen dead in a church. (often + adv/prep) Chris wouldn't be seen dead driving a Lada. (often + doing something)

See also: dead, seen, wouldn't

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caught in the crossfire

to be hurt by opposing groups in a disagreement. As politicians and educators debate school funding, it's students who are caught in the crossfire.

in the cross hairs

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of caught in the crossfire (= trapped between two groups that are shooting at each other)

See also: crossfire

caught in the middle

to experience the influence of opposing groups in a disagreement. My mother and sister are always yelling at each other, and I find myself caught in the middle.

in the cross hairs

See also: middle

caught short

not prepared for something. Airlines were caught short of fuel because of the oil workers' strike.

Usage notes: often used when someone does not have enough money: The cash machines aren't working and I'm really caught short.

See also: short

(get) caught up in something

to become completely involved in something. You get caught up in the excitement of the moment and don't think a lot about what happens next.

caught with your pants down

in a situation that embarrasses you. My job was to get as much information as possible so that my boss would not be caught with her pants down.

Usage notes: often said about situations you are not prepared for

See also: down, pant

someone would not be caught dead

someone would never do or wear something. I wouldn't be caught dead doing ads for that company. My father wouldn't have been caught dead in a white suit.

Etymology: based on the idea that something very bad would make even a dead person uncomfortable

See also: dead