catch someone on the hop Definition

hop¹
verb hopped, hopping

intr
1. Said of a person: to jump up and down on one leg, especially forwards as a form of movement.

Thesaurus: bound, caper, dance, frisk, jump, leap, limp, nip, prance, skip, spring, vault.
intr
2. Said of certain small birds, animals and insects: to move by jumping on both or all legs simultaneously.
3. To walk lame; limp.
4. To jump over something.
intr
5. colloq
To move in a lively or agile way in the specified direction.
Form: hop in, out (usually)
6. colloq
To make a short journey, especially by air.
Form: hop over (usually)

noun

1. An act of hopping; a jump on one leg.

Thesaurus: jump, bounce, bound, leap, skip, spring, step.
2. colloq
A distance travelled in an aeroplane without stopping; a short journey by air.
3. old use, colloq
An informal dance.

Idiom: catch someone on the hop

colloq
To catch them unawares or by surprise.

Idiom: hop it

(rit)
slang
To take oneself off; to leave.

Idiom: hopping mad

colloq
Very angry or furious.

Idiom: hop, skip and jump (hop, step and jump)

A jump on one leg, a skip, and a leap with both legs. 2 as an athletic event: the former name for the triple jump.

Idiom: keep someone on the hop

To keep someone busy, active or alert.

Idiom: on the hop

In a state of restless activity.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon hoppian to dance.