“Be caught on the hop” nghĩa là gì?

“Be caught on the hop” có hop là chết bất thình lình -> cụm từ này nghĩa là thấy, bị bắt gặp khi không để ý, đề phòng hay chuẩn bị trước.

Ví dụ

The Cullentra House handler admits to having been "caught on the hop" in terms of staff in seasons gone by but, in an effort to be fully prepared for when racing resumes, he has begun advertising for full-time staff.

"It is no secret that it is hard to get staff in racing and I always felt last year that we could do with two or three more staff around the place. We don't want to be caught on the hop again, which is why we are getting the word out early this year."

Prof Devi Sridhar of Edinburgh University, says it was assumed the virus could not be contained and instead had to be managed. She says while countries such as Taiwan, Singapore and South Korea, which had experience of dealing with the likes of Sars, already had test-and-trace systems in place, Europe and the US were caught on the hop.

Bài trước: “Be of unsound mind” nghĩa là gì?