in the act

in the act

1. As one is doing something. 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.
2. While having sexual intercourse. Can you believe I caught my husband in the act with another woman?
See also: act
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

in the act (of doing something)

while doing something. There he was, in the act of opening the door. I tripped while in the act of climbing.
See also: act
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

in the act

1. In the process of doing something. For example, The police caught the robber in the act, or I was in the act of closing the window. [Second half of 1600s]
2. Performing sexual intercourse, as in Her father caught them in the act. [Late 1500s]
See also: act
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
See also:
  • catch (one) in the act
  • catch in the act
  • catch somebody in the act
  • caught in the act
  • catch (one) in the act of (doing something)
  • in the act of (doing something)
  • catch
  • catch (one) (doing something)
  • catch something
  • catch it