in the act


in the act

1. As one is doing something. The police caught the robbers in the act of ransacking another house. I suspected that my friend was stealing money from me, and then I caught her in the act.2. While having sexual intercourse. Can you believe I caught my husband in the act with another woman?See also: act

in the act (of doing something)

while doing something. There he was, in the act of opening the door. I tripped while in the act of climbing.See also: act

in the act

1. In the process of doing something. For example, The police caught the robber in the act, or I was in the act of closing the window. [Second half of 1600s] 2. Performing sexual intercourse, as in Her father caught them in the act. [Late 1500s] See also: act