blindside

[ blahynd-sahyd ]

verb (used with object)

, blind·sid·ed, blind·sid·ing.

1. Sports. to tackle, hit, or attack (an opponent) from the blind side:

   The quarterback was blindsided and had the ball knocked out of his hand.

2. to attack critically where a person is vulnerable, uninformed, etc.:

   The president was blindsided by the press on the latest tax bill.

Word History and Origins

Origin of blindside¹

First recorded in 1970–75; verb use of noun phrase blind side

Example Sentences

About 1,200 faculty participated in the anonymous survey, and their responses revealed a culture in which professors say they are blindsided by major decisions.

From Washington Post

“Honestly, it was a stab in the back,” said one Republican aide of the rebuke from Delta, which “blindsided” Kemp and lawmakers.

From Washington Post

The task force was blindsided, according to people familiar with the views of its members.

From Washington Post

Cuomo’s office has asked prominent state Democratic lawmakers not to blindside them with calls for resignation, a person familiar with the request said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations.

From Washington Post

James, sounding blindsided, called the NBA’s pursuit of an All-Star Game in Atlanta a “slap in the face” after previous plans for Indianapolis were scrapped.

From Washington Post

Zachary Karabell says our complacency will blindside us, just as it did when Lehman Brothers collapsed.

From The Daily Beast

Related Words

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