caught in the act
idiom
: caught while doing something specified
He tried to rob a bank and was caught in the act.
Examples of caught in the act in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Management is defending itself and the thief caught in the act while punishing the victim.
—
Justin Gest, Newsweek, 11 Feb. 2025
According to a new paper published in the Journal of Ethology, California ground squirrels have been caught in the act—many times over—of chasing, killing, and eating voles.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 18 Dec. 2024
The charming canine, Barney, was caught in the act by his human, who uses the handle @mybestiebarney on TikTok.
—Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 27 Nov. 2024
See photo of winged homeless man caught in the act of littering.
—Jay Martel, The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for caught in the act 
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Justin Gest, Newsweek, 11 Feb. 2025
According to a new paper published in the Journal of Ethology, California ground squirrels have been caught in the act—many times over—of chasing, killing, and eating voles.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 18 Dec. 2024
The charming canine, Barney, was caught in the act by his human, who uses the handle @mybestiebarney on TikTok.
—Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 27 Nov. 2024
See photo of winged homeless man caught in the act of littering.
—Jay Martel, The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for caught in the act
Dictionary Entries Near caught in the act
Cite this Entry
“Caught in the act.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/caught%20in%20the%20act. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
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