When they arrived, I was just in the act of starting to make dinner.
He tried to rob a bank and was caught in the act. = He was caught in the act of robbing a bank.
Useful english dictionary. 2012.
be in the act of doing something — phrase to be doing something at a particular moment, especially when something else happens or when someone interrupts you She stopped in the act of turning and stared at me. Thesaurus: to do somethingsynonym Main entry: act … Useful english dictionary
catch someone in the act (of doing something) — phrase to find someone and interrupt them when they are doing something wrong He denies all guilt, even though he was caught in the act. Thesaurus: to notice or recognize something or someonesynonym Main entry: act … Useful english dictionary
in the act (of doing something) — in the act (of doing sth) idiom while you are doing sth • He was caught in the act of stealing a car. • It is often difficult to tell when someone is using drugs unless they are caught in the act. Main entry: ↑actidi … Useful english dictionary
be in the act of doing something — to be doing something at a particular moment, especially when something else happens or when someone interrupts you She stopped in the act of turning and stared at me … English dictionary
in the act — (of doing something) : while doing something When they arrived, I was just in the act of starting to make dinner. He tried to rob a bank and was caught in the act. = He was caught in the act of robbing a bank. • • • Main Entry: ↑act … Useful english dictionary
catch someone in the act — To come upon someone in the process of doing something they should not be doing • • • Main Entry: ↑act * * * I usu. be caught in the act surprise someone in the process of doing something wrong the thieves were caught in the act II see act … Useful english dictionary
in the act — adverb In the process of doing something; . She denied it but she had been spotted in the act. Syn: red handed, in flagrante delicto … Wiktionary
catch someone in the act — catch a person in the process of doing something (usually something wrong) … English contemporary dictionary
act — act1 [ ækt ] noun *** ▸ 1 single thing someone does ▸ 2 law ▸ 3 part of play, etc. ▸ 4 performance ▸ 5 behavior hiding truth ▸ + PHRASES 1. ) count a single thing that someone does: act of violence/vandalism/terrorism/kindness/bravery/desperation … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
act */*/*/ — I UK [ækt] / US noun Word forms act : singular act plural acts 1) [countable] a single thing that someone does act of violence/vandalism/terrorism/kindness/bravery/desperation etc: No act of kindness is ever wasted. We strongly condemn any act of … English dictionary
