caught looking for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "caught looking for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone is discovered while searching for something, often implying a sense of surprise or embarrassment. Example: "He was caught looking for his lost keys in the middle of the street."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Big Pharma has been caught looking for ways to hang on to profits from blockbuster drugs when they approach the end of their patent life.

The Guardian - Business

As Science News reported, a track coach in Germany was caught looking for Repoxygen, an experimental virus used to insert a gene into DNA.

The New York Times - Science

John Brooks got caught looking for an offsides call and Higuain makes the U.S. pay.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

"I was caught up looking for receivers and got careless with the ball," Vick said.

The New York Times - Sports

He caught Santiago looking for the first out, then, with most among the crowd of 46,479 standing, zipped another cutter past Raburn.

The New York Times - Sports

Even now, whenever I am in a group setting, I catch myself looking for the people I fit in with.

HuffPost

The latter, though, is the one thing Star might actually have going for itself: FOX smartly paired it up with Empire whose ratings increase became a story of its own during the first season premiering it directly after the fall finale tonight, aiming to catch viewers looking for an easy replacement while Empire is on hiatus.

Vice

Focus on the big picture, and don't get caught up in looking for results moment-to-moment, and your investment in A/B testing will pay off.

Harvard Business Review

We get caught up in looking for the perfect opportunities, and we feel like failures when can't figure out what we want or when we don't get that prestigious internship that someone else apparently landed effortlessly.

Yale University

We sometimes get caught up in looking for mentors.

HuffPost

Tendai Chatara ended the partnership when Marsh was caught by Sikandar Raza looking for his fifth six and then dismissed Maxwell seven short of 100 after he had just struck back-to-back sixes.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "caught looking for" to add a sense of surprise or mild disapproval when someone is discovered searching for something, especially if they were not supposed to be.

Common error

Avoid using "caught looking for" in situations where the search is expected or innocent, as it implies a degree of secrecy or wrongdoing. For example, don't say "The librarian was caught looking for a book for a patron", it would be better to say that 'The librarian was helping a patron find a book'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "caught looking for" primarily functions as a verb phrase indicating that someone was discovered in the act of searching for something. This implies a degree of surprise or potential impropriety, consistent with the usage observed in Ludwig AI's examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "caught looking for" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to describe someone being discovered while searching for something, often implying a sense of surprise or potential wrongdoing. As highlighted by Ludwig AI, this phrase appears frequently in news and media, as well as in academic and scientific contexts. While there are alternative phrases like "found searching for" or "discovered seeking", it's important to consider the connotation of secrecy or unexpectedness when using "caught looking for". Avoiding its use in situations where the search is innocent or expected is a key best practice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

discovered searching for

Replaces "caught" with "discovered", emphasizing the finding rather than the act of searching.

found seeking

Uses "found" and "seeking" to convey a similar meaning with different wording.

was seen searching for

Emphasizes the act of being observed while searching.

apprehended while seeking

Adds a sense of formality and potential wrongdoing to the act of searching.

busted looking for

More informal and carries a stronger connotation of being caught in a compromising situation.

uncovered during search for

Shifts focus to what was uncovered rather than the person searching.

chanced upon while seeking

Highlights the accidental nature of the discovery during the search.

stumbled across in pursuit of

Similar to "chanced upon", emphasizing the unexpected encounter.

met while trying to find

Emphasizes the interaction or meeting that occurred during the search.

located while attempting to locate

Focuses on the act of locating and the attempt to find something.

FAQs

How can I use "caught looking for" in a sentence?

Use "caught looking for" to describe someone being discovered while searching for something, often implying that the search was secretive or unexpected. Example: "He was caught looking for confidential files in his manager's office."

What's a less judgmental way to say "caught looking for"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "found searching for" or "discovered seeking", which are more neutral.

Is it always negative to be "caught looking for" something?

Not necessarily. While it often implies secrecy or mild disapproval, it can also simply mean someone was unexpectedly found during a search, as in "The dog was caught looking for treats in the kitchen cupboard."

What's the difference between "caught looking for" and "found looking for"?

"Caught looking for" often suggests an element of surprise or that the search was not intended to be seen. "Found looking for" is more neutral and simply indicates that someone was discovered during the act of searching.