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Glite Dictionary
on your guard

on your guard

6 4.4
Ready and alert to notice danger or problems
  • idiom
translation icon : en guardia
  • Whenever you find yourself getting angry about a difference of opinion, be on your guard; you will probably find, on examination, that your belief is going beyond what the evidence warrants.
  • put me on your guard
  • always be on your guard
  • stay on your guard

So be be on your guard about that.

Examples

  • Be on your guard and understand that the America that has been fostered by the likes of liberal politicians, educators, philosophers, and all-around demagogues is not a safe place.

    Blog text (26)

  • He was on your guard during the negotiation to prevent being taken advantage of.

  • I need to be on my guard.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • I have to constantly protect myself and stay on my guard with others.

    Academic text (2015)

  • Be on your guard always, and never commit this mistake that will cost you big time!

    Blog text (10)

  • I'd be on my guard, though, if I were you.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • As we've mentioned before, always be on your guard for the cat's protection and safety.

    Blog text (21)

  • Granted, the trust you had placed in the person who hurt you is gone forever because, going forward, you would always be on your guard around them.

    Blog text (30)

  • In uncertain situations, it's important to be on your guard against potential threats.

  • When traveling alone, you should stay on your guard to avoid any trouble.

Synonyms

careful
vson your guard
∞ 1.0

Watching what you do to avoid mistakes or harm

focuses more on readiness for danger than avoiding errors
alert
vson your guard
137 3.5

A state of being ready and watchful for possible danger

is about being aware and prepared for danger or problems
wary
vson your guard
110 3.6

Careful because you do not trust someone or something

is general readiness without the element of distrust
vigilant
vson your guard
66 6.0

A person who keeps careful watch for danger or problems

adds the idea of readiness to handle those threats
watchful
vson your guard
37 3.2

Being careful and ready to notice danger or problems

is broader, adding readiness to act not only observing
on guard
vson your guard
27 3.5

Alert and ready to act if danger or problems appear

stresses general readiness for danger or unexpected situations
on one's guard
vson your guard
4.7

Alert and ready to deal with danger or problems

is the direct second person warning to stay prepared for danger
on (one's) guard
vson your guard
4.6

Ready and careful about possible danger or problems

is the everyday phrasing telling someone to stay prepared
on (one's) toes
vson your guard
6.3

You are ready and alert to act quickly

is steadier readiness without the energetic emphasis

Antonyms

off guard
51 4.2

Not ready or paying attention when something happens

How Alert

hypervigilant
  • Specialized
1 8.6
on your guard
6 4.4
vigilant
66 6.0
watchful
37 3.2
unaware
175 2.9

Surface Forms

on your guard positive

Morphology

on + your + guard

The meaning 'alert and ready' is directly inferable from combining 'on' (indicating a state or position) + 'your' (possessive) + 'guard' (a state of protection or watchfulness), so a learner who knows the constituent meanings can derive the phrase. The pattern 'be on + noun' to indicate being in a particular state is common cross-linguistically (e.g. Spanish 'estar en guardia', French 'être sur ses gardes'), so despite a minor POS mismatch in the provided gloss, this is immediately comprehensible to a B1 learner.

Etymology

The phrase on your guard comes from the image of a guard standing watch at a gate, ready to spot danger. So, to be on your guard today means to be 'alert' and ready to deal with danger or problems.