caughtcaught /kɔːt $ kɒːt/ 
Longman Language Activatorto do something or to happen when someone is not ready
informal if you are caught napping by something that happens, you are not expecting it and are not ready to deal with it, although you should expect it and be ready for it: · Stock traders who ignore these signs are in danger of being caught napping when a recession hits.be caught napping by: · Nowadays, no company can afford to be caught napping by a technological development.
to say or do something when someone is not expecting it so that they cannot deal with it as well as they would like to: · "Are you married?" Vick asked, catching her off guard.· The Prime Minister admitted to being caught off guard by news of the attack.
informal to arrive or to do something when someone is not ready, and make them feel stupid or embarrassed: · The city got caught with its financial pants down, and the scandal has led to 12 high-level officials losing their jobs.
British informal to do something, or to happen, when someone is not expecting it and is not ready to deal with it: · The dramatic fall in share prices caught even the experts on the hop.· Many politicians have been caught on the hop by a good interviewer.
informal to try to do something even though you are not ready, especially when you have to pretend you know more about something that you do: · If you are asked a question that you're not ready for, it's better to say "I hadn't considered that" than to wing it and get it wrong.· We have to wing it in the first game, but we'll be more prepared for the next one.
to get involved with something you did not want to get involved in to get involved in something dangerous, unpleasant, or illegal, without wanting to or intending to do this: · I don't want to get caught up in some petty argument with you.· It is easy for young people to get caught up in crime when there are so few jobs.· One unlucky group of American tourists got caught up in the country's civil war.
to gradually be persuaded to get involved in something that you did not intend to get involved in: · U.N. peacekeepers have gotten drawn into the fighting they were trying to prevent.· Children who end up on the street are likely to get drawn into prostitution and petty crime.
to get involved in a long and complicated discussion, argument, or struggle which you do not want to get involved in: · The airline became embroiled in a six-month battle with the pilots' union.· I don't want to get embroiled in some endless argument over money.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
Doctors who tried to help the wounded were caught in the crossfire. During a divorce, kids often get caught in the crossfire. She got her foot caught in the wire. They caught a glimpse of a dark green car. Workers who broke the strike risked being attacked when they left the factory. I got caught speeding on the A40 yesterday.
(=be photographed, especially doing something wrong)· The boys were caught on camera leaving the station.
Doctors who tried to help the wounded were caught in the crossfire. During a divorce, kids often get caught in the crossfire. She got her foot caught in the wire. They caught a glimpse of a dark green car. (=be outside when it starts raining)· Did you get caught in the rain?
Workers who broke the strike risked being attacked when they left the factory. I got caught speeding on the A40 yesterday. (=to be caught stealing from your employer)
· Sorry I’m late – I was stuck in traffic.
(=recorded on video)· The crime was captured on video.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► I wouldn’t be seen/caught dead► like a rabbit/deer caught in headlights► be taken short/be caught short► be (caught/locked/stuck) in a time warp
the past tense and past participle of catch- Now the local authorities are caught in a cleft stick, hostages to their own political process.
- So the developing countries are caught in a cleft stick.
- Nowadays, no company can afford to be caught napping by a technological development.
- Stock traders who ignore these signs are in danger of being caught napping when a recession hits.
- I was reminding the golfing spirits that I could not be caught napping.
- Quakers were caught napping again two minutes later.