In the act Meaning in English
expression
ˈɪn/, /ɪn/ /ˈðə/, /ðə/, /ði/ /ˈækt
IN thuh AKT
ˈɪn/ /ðə, ði/ /ˈækt
IN thuh AKT
Definition
If someone is 'in the act', they are doing something at that exact moment, often used when someone is caught doing something wrong or secret.
Usage & Nuances
Commonly used after 'caught', as in 'caught in the act', to describe being discovered doing something (often wrong or embarrassing). Without 'caught', it can describe any ongoing action but is less common in neutral contexts.
Spanish: en el acto - en el momento (de hacer algo)Portuguese (BR): no ato - no momento (de fazer algo)Portuguese (PT): no ato - no momento (de fazer algo)Chinese (Simplified): 正在做某事时 - 当场Chinese (Traditional): 正在做某事時 - 當場Hindi: ऐन मौके पर - करते हुए पकड़ा गयाArabic: في اللحظة نفسها - أثناء الفعلBengali: অপরাধ করার সময় - হাতেনাতেRussian: с поличным - в момент преступленияJapanese: 現行犯で - している最中にVietnamese: đang thực hiện hành động - bị bắt quả tangKorean: 현행범으로 - 막 하는 중에Turkish: suçüstü - o andaUrdu: عین جرم کرتے ہوئے - عین موقع پرIndonesian: sedang melakukan (tindakan) - tertangkap basah
Example Sentences
The police caught him in the act of stealing.
basic
She was caught in the act of cheating on the test.
basic
The kids were in the act of painting the walls.
basic
Don't even try to deny it—I saw you in the act!
natural
He was caught in the act with his hand in the cookie jar.
natural
I walked in in the act, but quickly pretended I saw nothing.
natural