Caught in the act Meaning in English
expression · lemma: catch in the act
ˈkɑt/, /ˈkɔt/ /ˈɪn/, /ɪn/ /ˈðə/, /ðə/, /ði/ /ˈækt
KAHT in thee AKT
kˈɔːt/ /ˈɪn/ /ðə, ði/ /ˈækt
KAWT in the AKT
Definition
When someone is discovered or seen while they are actually doing something wrong or secret.
Usage & Nuances
Commonly used for being discovered doing something wrong, either seriously (like stealing) or playfully (like sneaking food). Often appears in the phrase 'caught in the act of ...'. Informal and sometimes humorous.
Spanish: encontrado con las manos en la masa - pillado en el actoPortuguese (BR): pego no flagra - pego no atoPortuguese (PT): apanhado em flagrante - apanhado no atoChinese (Simplified): 当场被抓 - 当场抓住Chinese (Traditional): 當場被抓 - 當場抓住Hindi: रंगेहाथ पकड़ा गयाArabic: ألقي القبض عليه متلبساً - تم الإمساك به متلبساًBengali: হাতে নাতে ধরা - কাজের সময় ধরাRussian: схвачен на месте преступления - застигнут на местеJapanese: 現行犯で捕まる - 現場で見つかるVietnamese: bắt quả tang - bắt tại trậnKorean: 현장에서 잡히다 - 현행범으로 잡히다Turkish: suçüstü yakalanmakUrdu: عین حالت میں پکڑناIndonesian: tertangkap basah - tertangkap saat beraksi
Example Sentences
He was caught in the act of stealing cookies.
basic
The thief was caught in the act by the police.
basic
She was caught in the act of cheating on the test.
basic
I tried to sneak a snack, but Mom caught me in the act.
natural
They were caught in the act of spray-painting the wall.
natural
You can lie all you want, but you were caught in the act.
natural