Definition
To discover someone in the act of doing something they wished to keep hidden, often something illicit or embarrassing.
He tried to cover up his misconduct, but his boss caught him with his pants down.
The media caught the politician with his pants down meeting with lobbyists, leaving him in an embarrassing situation.
They were caught with their pants down accessing confidential documents without authorization.
To ask someone unexpectedly to do or say something that they are not prepared for, thus catching them off guard.
The reporter caught the politician with his pants down by asking that question unexpectedly at the press conference.
The boss caught everyone with their pants down by unexpectedly asking about the sales figures during the meeting.
The professor caught me with my pants down by calling on me unexpectedly to answer a question in class.