unawares
/ʌnəˈwɛːz
/(also unaware)
adverb
Without being aware of a situation: the photographer had caught her unawares...
- We do not express our needs clearly and concisely and end up with situations to which we have contributed unawares.
- We have an idea of how something will happen, good or bad, that for a few brief moments things will go our way, then something will jump up unawares and throw things off course.
- But don't be so busy grizzling that this week sneaks up on you unawares - and gives you a whole lot more to complain about.
Synonyms
by surprise, unexpectedly, without warning, suddenly, abruptly, unprepared, off-guard, cold;
red-handed, in the act, in flagrante delicto
informal with one's trousers/pants down, napping, in flagrante
British informal on the hop
unknowingly, unwittingly, unconsciously, without noticing, in all innocence;
unintentionally, inadvertently, accidentally, by accident, by mistake, mistakenly
Origin
Mid 16th century: from unaware + -s3.