Idiom: catch someone in the act
Definition
idiom: catch someone in the act
- to see or discover someone at the exact moment they're doing something, especially something bad or wrong.
Example sentences
— I tried to quietly walk in the back door to the office because I was late but my colleague caught me in the act and told my boss.
— I turned my paper to the side so Stephen could copy answers off my test but the teacher caught us in the act and gave both of us a failing grade.
— This morning I caught my dog in the act of knocking over the garbage can and searching for food.
— My son said he never even kissed someone before but today our next door neighbor caught him and his daughter in the act.
— The babysitter didn't realize we had installed a security camera so we caught her in the act. She invited friends over to watch TV rather than watching the kids.
— My boss caught me in the act of doing my homework instead of working but luckily I just got a warning this time.
— My father always opens my bedroom door without knocking as if he's trying to catch me in the act of doing something wrong, but all I'm doing is studying.
— I told my children that if I ever catch them in the act of drinking or smoking they will lose all their privileges including their phones and seeing friends.
— I caught the student in the act. She was reading notes written on her hand.
— I knew someone was stealing office supplies over the past few months and yesterday, I caught the director in the act. He was carrying a box of supplies to his car.
Synonyms
- catch someone red-handed
- catch someone with their pants down
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