catch somebody in the act

catch (one) in the act

To see, and perhaps apprehend, someone as they are doing something (often something nefarious). The police caught the robbers in the act of ransacking another house. I suspected that my friend was stealing money from me, and then I caught her in the act. Ah, our doorbell camera caught someone in the act! Look at this guy stealing our packages!

See also: act, catch

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

catch somebody in the ˈact (of doing something)

find somebody while they are doing something they should not be doing: She turned round to catch him in the act of trying to run upstairs.

This expression is often used in the passive: He was caught in the act of stealing a car.

See also: act, catch, somebody

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017