has caught out

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has caught out" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that someone has been discovered in a mistake or wrongdoing, often unexpectedly. Example: "The detective has caught out the suspect during the investigation, revealing his lies."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Travel

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

This is a new restriction, and it has caught out the mother of the two kids.

The Guardian

This has caught out a number of users of 3D printers, who have blithely made reproductions of popular merchandise.

The Economist

This has caught out a number of unwitting users of 3D printers who have blithely made reproductions of popular merchandise.

The Economist

The rule change has caught out thousands of motorists who have unwittingly found their car untaxed and clamped.

The Guardian - Money

That has caught out some hotel owners who took on too much debt; in Colorado, the owner of the Vail Plaza Hotel & Club filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in October.Vivian Deuschl of the Ritz-Carlton hotel group says corporate bookings have been particularly badly hit.

The Economist

Steve Back, the photographer who took the picture of the memo and who has caught out a number of ministers with similar shots, wrote on Twitter: "I've lost count of the times I have told people to get folders in No 10".

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

According to our postbag, the copycat European health insurance card (EHIC) sites seem to have caught out even more people.

The Guardian - Money

Introduced in the 10th over, he claimed four wickets in his fiery opening spell after Southee had caught out Kenya's opener, Alex Obanda, for six runs.

The Guardian - Sport

There's not even much point asking in the morning what might be for dinner: it will depend on what Salvatore's fishermen friends have caught out at sea that day.

The Guardian - Travel

Within two minutes of the restart, though, Tony Rougier had caught out Charlton on the counter-attack and nine minutes later Vale's player-coach Martin Foyle headed in the equaliser when a Tommy Widdrington free-kick arrived at the far post.

The Guardian - Sport

It is believed to have caught out the Washington Post, the BBC, AP, Skype, the New York Times, the Guardian, the Financial Times and Reuters.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the context: while versatile, "has caught out" might not suit extremely formal or technical writing. Opt for alternatives like "exposed" or "revealed" in those cases.

Common error

Avoid using "has caught out" literally when you mean physically catching someone exiting a place. The phrase is almost exclusively used idiomatically to mean exposing someone's mistake or deception.

Linguistic Context

"Has caught out" functions as an idiomatic verb phrase. Ludwig AI confirms its usage in revealing someone's errors or deceptions, similar to how it is employed in the provided examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Sport

15%

Travel

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Books

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"Has caught out" is an idiomatic phrase that means to unexpectedly expose someone's mistake, deception, or wrongdoing. While Ludwig AI confirms it is grammatically correct and usable in written English, it is relatively uncommon. It is most frequently used in news and media contexts, and has a neutral register making it suitable for various situations, although more formal writing might benefit from alternatives such as "exposed" or "revealed".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has exposed

Focuses on revealing something hidden, often wrongdoing.

has revealed

Highlights the act of making something known.

has unmasked

Implies removing a disguise or revealing a true identity.

has discovered

Emphasizes the act of finding something previously unknown.

has found out

Similar to 'discovered' but often implies a more casual finding.

has taken by surprise

Focuses on the unexpected nature of the event.

has left vulnerable

Emphasizes the act of making someone susceptible to harm or criticism.

has shown to be

Highlights the demonstration of a particular quality or state.

has tricked

Emphasizes the act of fooling or deceiving someone.

has deceived

Highlights misleading or lying to someone.

FAQs

What does "has caught out" mean?

The phrase "has caught out" means to unexpectedly expose someone's mistake, deception, or wrongdoing. It implies a moment of revelation or discovery.

What are some alternatives to "has caught out"?

You can use alternatives such as "has exposed", "has revealed", or "has unmasked" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "has caught out" formal or informal?

The phrase "has caught out" is generally considered neutral in formality. While acceptable in news and general writing, more formal contexts may benefit from alternatives like "has exposed" or "has revealed".

How can I use "has caught out" in a sentence?

Example: "The investigation has caught out several members of the committee who were accepting bribes."