caught stealing

USAGE SUMMARY

"caught stealing" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that someone has been discovered while trying to take something illegally. For example: The thief was caught stealing from the jewelry store.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Strike-out, caught-stealing double play: If a batter strikes out and a baserunner is caught stealing on the same play, a double play is recorded.

WikiHow

Been caught stealing.

Stanford University

Caught stealing, your opponent could chase you.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Caught stealing something worth less than $950?

The Washington Post

Far more impressive, the team was caught stealing 19 times.

The New York Times - Sports

Karim Garcia followed with a single, but was caught stealing.

The New York Times - Sports

The official scorer ruled Kelly was caught stealing.

The New York Times - Sports

Then McEwing was caught stealing with Alfonzo up.

The New York Times - Sports

But Johnny did and he was caught stealing.

The New Yorker

Desmond, caught stealing money from his chambers, was disgraced.

The Guardian - Books

But he was caught stealing on 11 of 16 attempts.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing events in news or historical contexts, use “caught stealing” to clearly indicate the act of being discovered while committing theft.

Common error

Avoid using “caught stealing” in situations where the act of theft is not the primary focus. If the emphasis is on the consequences or the person's character, consider using alternatives like "accused of theft" or "revealed to be a thief."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "caught stealing" functions as a descriptive phrase, typically modifying a noun or pronoun to indicate that someone was discovered in the act of theft. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Science

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "caught stealing" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to describe someone discovered in the act of theft. As verified by Ludwig AI, it's appropriate for a wide range of contexts, from news reporting to everyday conversation. While versatile, avoid using it in situations where the emphasis is not primarily on the act of theft itself, and choose alternatives if a more specific nuance is needed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

caught in the act of stealing

Expands the original phrase to emphasize the moment of being caught.

apprehended for theft

Focuses on the legal aspect of being formally arrested for stealing.

busted for shoplifting

Specifically refers to being caught stealing from a store.

nabbed for larceny

Highlights the legal term for theft after being caught.

caught red-handed

Emphasizes being caught in the act of committing a crime, not exclusively stealing.

found thieving

A more colloquial way of saying caught stealing.

discovered pilfering

Uses a more formal and less common word for stealing.

exposed as a thief

Shifts the focus to the revelation of someone's thieving nature.

uncovered as a pilferer

Uses a less common and more formal term for someone who steals small items.

realized as larcenist

Focuses on the recognition of someone as a habitual thief.

FAQs

How is "caught stealing" used in a sentence?

The phrase "caught stealing" is used to describe someone who has been discovered while in the process of stealing. For example, "The suspect was "caught stealing" merchandise from the store."

What can I say instead of "caught stealing"?

You can use alternatives like "apprehended for theft", "busted for shoplifting", or "caught red-handed" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "caught stealing" or "caught to steal"?

"Caught stealing" is correct. "Caught to steal" is grammatically incorrect in this context. The correct phrase uses the gerund form of the verb "steal".

What's the difference between "caught stealing" and "accused of stealing"?

"Caught stealing" implies that someone was discovered in the act of stealing, while "accused of stealing" simply means someone is suspected of theft, regardless of whether they were caught in the act.