Catch in the act Meaning in English
expression
ˈkætʃ/ /ˈɪn/, /ɪn/ /ˈðə/, /ðə/, /ði/ /ˈækt
KATCH in thee AKT
kˈætʃ/ /ˈɪn/ /ðə, ði/ /ˈækt
KATCH in thee AKT
Definition
To see or discover someone while they are doing something wrong, illegal, or secret.
Usage & Nuances
This informal expression is mainly used when someone is discovered doing something they shouldn't. Common in both serious and humorous contexts. Often followed by a description of the wrong action, e.g., 'caught him in the act of cheating.'
Spanish: pillar con las manos en la masa - atrapar en el actoPortuguese (BR): pegar no flagra - pegar no atoPortuguese (PT): apanhar em flagrante - apanhar no atoChinese (Simplified): 当场捉住Chinese (Traditional): 當場捉住Hindi: रंगे हाथ पकड़नाArabic: يمسك متلبسًاBengali: আপরাধরত অবস্থায় ধরা পড়া - হাতে নাতে ধরাRussian: схватить с поличным - застать на месте преступленияJapanese: 現行犯で捕まえるVietnamese: bắt quả tangKorean: 현행범으로 잡다 - 바로 그 순간에 잡다Turkish: suçüstü yakalamakUrdu: عین جرم کرتے ہوئے پکڑناIndonesian: tertangkap basah
Example Sentences
The police caught him in the act of stealing.
basic
I caught my brother in the act of eating the last cookie.
basic
She was caught in the act by the teacher during the test.
basic
You should have seen his face when he was caught in the act!
natural
They tried to deny everything, but I caught them in the act.
natural
If you leave the window open, don’t be surprised if you’re caught in the act.
natural