catch us out

USAGE SUMMARY

"catch us out" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It means to surprise someone by asking or saying something unexpected. For example: "The teacher caught us out with a pop quiz on the material we hadn't reviewed yet."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

They still tried to catch us out on counter attacks and we just dealt with it.

The Telegraph

"[Bilic] asked me to sit and talk to everyone to help get them into position, not to let Arsenal catch us out on the break, to keep it simple and not try to do too much.

The Guardian - Sport

"We often think they are there to try to catch us out but I know from my experience interviewing that I am really pleased when someone is doing well.

The Guardian

Steven tries to catch us out, at regular intervals, with a shot of unreliable narration ("Oh, did I forget to mention I'm gay?" or "There's something I didn't tell you"), but the filmmakers' attempt to enshrine him as an enigma, unknowable and arcane, is defeated by our dawning realization that he is, unmistakably, a jerk.

The New Yorker

A bank that truly keeps us informed and in control, rather than trying to catch us out with fees and charges.

TechCrunch

There are no more worries about Jack Frost lurking around with his icicle fingers itching to catch us out.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

What he meant Ed Miliband caught us out with this in the election campaign.

Independent

And one thing that you could say caught us out was the James Meredith character, which, for the story, required a capable and experienced black baritone.

The New York Times - Arts

The reporter in the Times seems to suggest this device caught us out, but we knew about it all the time, as Nissan will confirm.

The Guardian

Angus said he did not detect a political bias at the BBC but added: "Where people have caught us out in the past has been on things like cultural issues where I think there is an apparent bias.

The Guardian

"You can't do what we did and not replace people because it will catch you out in the end and it has caught us out up until this point," Thorn continued.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the nuance: "catch us out" often implies a sense of surprise or unexpected discovery, not just any kind of exposure.

Common error

Avoid using "catch us out" when the situation involves a deliberate, planned investigation rather than an unexpected discovery of an error or deception.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "catch us out" functions as a phrasal verb, acting as the predicate of a clause. Ludwig examples show it expressing an attempt to expose someone's errors or deception. It often implies a deliberate action to reveal a hidden flaw or mistake.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

21%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Academia

7%

Science

4%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "catch us out" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrasal verb, as affirmed by Ludwig. It implies an attempt to expose someone's errors or deception, often with an element of surprise. Predominantly found in News & Media, Formal & Business, and Wiki contexts, it maintains a neutral register. While authoritative sources frequently employ it, remember to use it when appropriate and consider alternatives like "expose us" or "trick us" to add nuance to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

call us out

Directly challenges or criticizes someone for a mistake or wrongdoing.

expose us

Focuses on revealing something hidden or a weakness.

trick us

Highlights the deceptive aspect of the action.

deceive us

Emphasizes the intent to mislead or fool.

reveal our errors

Specifically points out the disclosure of mistakes.

uncover our faults

Highlights the uncovering of flaws or shortcomings.

find us wanting

Emphasizes finding someone deficient or lacking.

discover our weaknesses

Focuses on finding vulnerabilities.

see through us

Suggests understanding someone's true intentions or nature.

unmask us

Implies the removal of a disguise, revealing true identity or nature.

FAQs

What does it mean to "catch someone out"?

To "catch someone out" means to reveal that they are wrong, lying, or making a mistake, often in a way that is surprising or unexpected. It implies uncovering something that was meant to be hidden.

How can I use "catch us out" in a sentence?

You can use "catch us out" to describe a situation where someone is trying to expose your mistakes or lies. For example, "The interviewer tried to catch us out with tricky questions."

What's the difference between "catch us out" and "call us out"?

"Catch us out" implies uncovering a mistake or deception, often with an element of surprise. "Call us out", on the other hand, means to publicly challenge or criticize someone for their actions or statements.

What are some phrases similar to "catch us out"?

Similar phrases include "expose us", "trick us", or "reveal our errors", depending on the specific context and the desired emphasis.