catch a murderous

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "catch a murderous" is not correct in standard written English as it is incomplete and lacks context.
It could be used in a context where someone is trying to apprehend or confront a person who has committed murder, but it needs additional information to be clear. Example: "The detective was determined to catch a murderous criminal who had been terrorizing the city."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

When "Sweeney Todd" had its premiere, whatever opening-night jitters the show's composer Stephen Sondheim might have experienced there was at least one thing he did not have to worry about: a murderous barber showing up to catch a glimpse of how he was being portrayed on the stage.

The New York Times

At one point, determined not to be defeated by the surfeit, I made an early exit from a fabulously murderous twentieth-century program by James Levine and the Met Orchestra — Bartók's "Miraculous Mandarin," Schoenberg's "Erwartung," Stravinsky's "Rite of Spring" — to catch a program of Renaissance polyphony by the Hilliard Ensemble, in the Music Before 1800 series, at Corpus Christi Church.

The New Yorker

"Catch a Kite".

The New York Times

Go catch a movie.

WikiHow

Statistically, the risk for any individual traveller of being caught up in a murderous attack remains very low.

Independent

It would be hard enough being a political refugee in a foreign country without being caught up in a murderous turf war, but Audiard likes to press home his point.

The Guardian - Film

Most people who are upset about killing dogs or letting them attack each other have at some point in their lives caught a fish, which is as extreme a form of murderous torture of an animal as I can imagine.

Huffington Post

But then the entire final act of the movie, in which Harry and his playmates dice with varieties of death, including neck-wrapping roots and murderous chessmen, has a definite air of the secondhand; I caught a blast of Indiana Jones, and a more recent whiff of the Mummy.

The New Yorker

He caught a vision!

The New York Times

See "Catching a Buzz".

Forbes

We like illustrations because you can do all sorts of things with them that you can't do with a photo, like have chipmunks blast Ted Nugent with semen or catch Alex Salmond riding shotgun with a murderous Mel Gibson.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing the apprehension of a murderer, use complete and grammatically correct phrases like "apprehend a killer" or "bring a murderer to justice" for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using incomplete phrases like "catch a murderous" without a clear object or context, as it can lead to ambiguity. Ensure your sentence includes a noun or noun phrase to specify what or whom you are attempting to catch.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "catch a murderous" is grammatically incomplete. It needs a noun to specify what is being "caught". As Ludwig AI explains, the phrase requires additional context to be meaningful. Without it, the expression is vague and doesn't adhere to standard English sentence structure.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "catch a murderous" is grammatically incomplete and lacks a clear object, rendering it ineffective in standard written English. Ludwig AI suggests that the phrase needs additional information to be clear, and recommends using more complete and grammatically correct alternatives such as "apprehend a killer" or "capture a murderer". Due to its ambiguity and the absence of direct examples, the phrase's utility is limited, and its intended meaning is often unclear without more context. Therefore, it is advisable to use clearer and more precise phrasing when discussing such topics.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

apprehend a killer

Focuses specifically on the act of capturing someone who has committed a killing.

capture a murderer

Similar to 'apprehend a killer' but emphasizes the legal aspect of capturing someone accused of murder.

bring a murderer to justice

Highlights the goal of ensuring that a murderer faces legal consequences.

stop a murderous rampage

Emphasizes preventing further violence in a series of killings.

thwart a murderous plot

Focuses on preventing a planned act of murder from happening.

confront a murderous individual

Highlights the act of facing a person capable of committing murder.

neutralize a murderous threat

Emphasizes eliminating a danger posed by someone likely to commit murder.

investigate a murder

Focuses on the inquiry and evidence gathering aspect after a death

solve a murder

Highlights the goal of finding the reason/motive of a death

unmask a murderous scheme

Focuses on exposing a secret plan involving murder.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "catch a murderous" to be more grammatically correct?

You can use phrases like "apprehend a killer", "capture a murderer", or "bring a murderer to justice" depending on the specific context you intend to convey.

What does it mean to "apprehend a killer"?

To "apprehend a killer" means to capture or arrest someone who has committed a murder. It focuses on the act of bringing the person into custody.

In what situations would I use the phrase "bring a murderer to justice"?

The phrase "bring a murderer to justice" is used when you want to emphasize the process of ensuring that a murderer faces legal consequences for their actions, highlighting the importance of the judicial system in resolving the crime.

What's a more formal way to say "catch a murderous"?

More formal alternatives include "apprehend a suspect in a murder case" or "bring a perpetrator of homicide to justice".