blindside
/ˈblaɪndˌsaɪd/ noun, verb
Forms blindsides blindsiding blindsided blind side blind-side
- noun (automotive) A driver's field of blindness around an automobile; the side areas behind the driver.
- noun (rail transport) A tram/train driver's field of blindness around a tram (trolley/streetcar) or a train; the side areas behind the tram/train driver.
- noun (figurative) A person's weak point.
- noun (rugby) The space on the side of the pitch with the shorter distance between the breakdown/set piece and the touchline; compare openside.
- noun (rugby union) The blindside flanker, a position in rugby union, usually number 6. “The blindside packs down at the scrum on the blindside.”
- verb (transitive) To attack (a person) on their blind side. “The robbers crept out of the forest and blindsided the traveller.”
- verb (transitive, figurative, informal) To catch off guard; to take by surprise. “He had completed his plan to develop a new office building, but was blindsided by the sudden drop in real estate values.”
Synonyms
Etymology
From blind + side.
Sources: Wiktionary — from the Wiktionary entry “blindside”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details