- Meaning
- This idiom means to be caught unprepared, surprised, or at a disadvantage, unable to react quickly. It suggests being off-guard or slow to respond, often used in sports, business, or social contexts to describe someone caught in an unexpected situation.
- Origin
- The phrase comes from early 20th-century American sports, particularly baseball, where a player standing ‘flat-footed’ (not on their toes) was less ready to move. An early use appears in a 1912 *New York Times* sports report: ‘Caught flat-footed at first base.’ By the 1920s, it was metaphorical, describing any unpreparedness, as seen in journalism and literature. Its sports origin and vivid imagery ensured its spread in American English.
- Variants
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- Catch flat-footed
- Caught flatfooted
- Examples
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- The team was caught flat-footed by the competitor’s sudden price drop.
- She was caught flat-footed when the teacher called on her unexpectedly.
- Caught flat-footed, he stammered through his unprepared speech.
- The army was caught flatfooted by the enemy’s surprise attack.
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