catch the thief

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "catch the thief" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the act of apprehending someone who has committed theft. Example: "The police were able to catch the thief before he could escape the scene of the crime."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

A Portuguese minister was robbed at knifepoint in Ipanema, though locals helped police catch the thief.

The Guardian - Sport

She'll always be our prime suspect; but unless Marc Jacobs is installing GPS chips in his bags these days, we'll never catch the thief — for certain.

The New York Times

The boss laments that it will be hard to catch the thief, because "he won't do a thing to call attention to himself.

The Economist

He started to call the police but gave up when his credit ran out and decided to catch the thief himself instead.

The Guardian

It didn't take a Joe Friday to catch the thief -- his fingerprints were all over the Silly Putty he had played with before he made his getaway.

The New York Times

As bees bizz out wi' angry fyke,  When plundering herds assail their byke;  As open pussie's mortal foes,  When, pop! she starts before their nose;  As eager runs the market-crowd,  When "Catch the thief!" resounds aloud;  So Maggie runs, the witches follow,  Wi' mony an eldritch skriech and hollo.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

If caught, the thief may end up in the bajes ("jail", from the Hebrew bayit, "house").

The Economist

The bad news was that they had caught the thief and got it back.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

A security videotape caught the thief riding away on a bicycle and recorded the sound of the bicycle running into trash cans.

The New York Times

"Yes, the police sometimes catches the thief driving the car, but he's just the little guy in the operation", says Diethard Remmer, who works in a Ford dealership in Frankfurt an der Oder.

The Economist

More than a year after he caught the thief stealing his bees in Diablo Grande at 4am, Johnson and I left the wood furnace in his warehouse – where tools line the walls, sawdust fills the air, and a keg of beer waits in a fridge draped in mardis gras beads and old photographs – and headed into the foothills for a routine "spot check".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing crime fiction or news reports, ensure the phrase "catch the thief" is contextually appropriate; consider whether more specific terms like "apprehend the burglar" or "capture the criminal" might be more precise.

Common error

Avoid using "catch the thief" in formal or academic writing where a more professional term like "apprehend the suspect" or "capture the perpetrator" would be more suitable.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "catch the thief" functions as a common expression denoting the action of apprehending someone who has committed a theft. This phrase is widely understood and used, as evidenced by its presence in various sources identified by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Academia

16%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "catch the thief" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to describe the act of apprehending someone who has stolen something. Ludwig AI affirms its correctness and provides numerous examples from diverse sources, primarily within news and media. While the phrase is generally suitable for various contexts, it's important to consider using more formal alternatives, such as "apprehend the suspect" or "capture the criminal", in academic or professional writing. The examples provided by Ludwig highlight the phrase's versatility and widespread recognition.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

apprehend the burglar

Replaces "thief" with a more specific type of criminal, focusing on burglary.

capture the criminal

Uses a more formal verb ("capture") and a broader noun ("criminal") to describe the act.

nab the culprit

Uses slang ("nab") and a more general term for the offender ("culprit").

seize the perpetrator

Employs formal language ("seize", "perpetrator") to convey a serious tone.

collar the offender

Uses informal language ("collar") for a more casual tone.

bring the thief to justice

Expands the phrase to include the concept of legal consequences.

track down the thief

Focuses on the investigative aspect of finding the thief.

hunt down the culprit

Emphasizes the pursuit aspect, suggesting a more intensive search.

find and apprehend the thief

Splits the action into two distinct steps: finding and then apprehending.

recover the stolen goods

Shifts the focus from catching the person to retrieving what was stolen.

FAQs

What does "catch the thief" mean?

The phrase "catch the thief" means to find and apprehend someone who has stolen something. It implies both the act of locating the person and bringing them into custody or otherwise holding them accountable.

What can I say instead of "catch the thief"?

You can use alternatives like "apprehend the burglar", "capture the criminal", or "nab the culprit" depending on the context.

Is "catch the thief" formal or informal?

The phrase "catch the thief" is generally considered to be neutral in tone, suitable for both news reports and general conversation, but might be too informal for academic or highly professional settings.

How can I use "catch the thief" in a sentence?

You can use "catch the thief" in a sentence like: "The police were able to catch the thief before he could leave the building" or "The store owner decided to take matters into his own hands and try to catch the thief himself".