caught off guard:it means take (or be taken) by surprise and the other caught short , means : have nothing to say
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21-Jul-2010, 03:15 #1
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be caught short vs. be caught off guard
What is the difference between the two idioms:
1) He was caught off guard when the reporters asked him about economy.
2) He was caught short when the reporters asked him about economy.
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21-Jul-2010, 23:03 #2
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Re: be vs. be caught off guard
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22-Jul-2010, 01:23 #3
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Re: be caught short vs. be caught off guard
A person caught short will have nothing to say because he or she is unprepared to respond.
Having been caught off guard may simply mean the question is a surprise and the person is finding it difficult to compose a response. A little time to think may be all that is needed.
A person caught short probably will not be able to answer the question because important knowledge is lacking.
Steve
