un ‧ a ‧ wares /ˌʌnəˈweəz $ -ˈwerz/ BrE AmE adverb
1 . take/catch somebody unawares if something takes you unawares, it happens when you are not expecting it and are not prepared:
The question caught me completely unawares.
2 . formal without noticing:
We had walked unawares over the border.