Definition of "flat-footed" []

• Of or afflicted with flatfoot. (adjective)
• Steady on the feet. (adjective)
• Informal Without reservation; forthright: a flat-footed refusal. (adjective)
• Unable to react quickly; unprepared: The new product caught their competitors flat-footed. (adjective)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "So we sense a real competitive opportunity to bring the Cabela's concept to Canada, and really catch those folks in Canada very flat-footed, which is what's happened thus far."
• "The crowd got it instantly; it drew a huge laugh and caught Hart completely flat-footed."
• "I've seen roaches big enough to stand flat-footed and do bad things to dogs."