be caught in the act

be caught in the act

To be seen, and perhaps apprehended, while doing something (often something nefarious). The burglar was caught in the act by our security cameras. I'll never forget trying to steal a cookie and being caught in the act by my grandmother—she took it and ate it herself! We thought we were so slick—that is, until we were caught in the act cheating on our math test.

See also: act, caught

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

be caught in the act

COMMON If you are caught in the act, someone sees you doing something secret or wrong. The men were caught in the act of digging up buried explosives. Note: In this expression, `act' refers to the act of doing something.

See also: act, caught

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012