guard

be on (your) guard

to be careful to avoid being tricked or getting into a dangerous situation. I feel I have to be on my guard with her because she's always trying to get information out of me. Shop assistants must always be on guard against shoplifters. (often + against)

catch/take someone off guard

to surprise someone by doing or saying something they were not expecting. One of the larger airlines caught its rivals off guard yesterday by suddenly announcing a cut in fares. When they asked me to babysit, I was taken off guard and found myself agreeing to it.

See also: catch, take

drop/lower your guard

to stop being careful to avoid danger or difficulty. Once he knew I wasn't a journalist, he dropped his guard and even let me take a photograph of him.

See also: drop, lower

the old guard

a group of people who have worked in an organization for a long time and do not want it to change. She has tried to resist attempts by the old guard to halt the reform process.

See also: old

old-guard

the old guard - a group of people who have worked in an organization for a long time and do not want it to change. Most people in the party want to see the old-guard leadership replaced. (always before noun)

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catch someone off guard

to surprise someone. He's used to being interviewed and it seems that no question catches him off guard.

See also: catch

drop your guard

to stop being careful about sharing your ideas or feelings. Once he knew I wasn't a journalist, he dropped his guard and even let me take a photograph of him.

See also: drop

on your guard

to be careful and aware because a situation might be dangerous. I resent this attitude that you can't trust anybody, that you always have to be on your guard.