catch out

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catch out (third-person singular simple present catches out, present participle catching out, simple past and past participle caught out)

1. (transitive) To discover or expose as fake, insincere, or inaccurate.
   • 1939 October 23, “Religion: Discordant Concordat”, in Time:

     Bishop Manning has his enemies, but those enemies have hardly ever caught him out on a point of theology or canon law.

2. (transitive) To take (someone) by surprise.
   • 2023 August 12, Suzanne Wrack, “England hit back to beat Colombia and set up World Cup semi with Australia”, in The Guardian‎:

     However, Colombia broke the deadlock, Leicy Santos toying with Rachel Daly after collecting Caicedo’s pass, before sweeping a dipping effort over a caught-out Mary Earps. It was a luscious finish and the crowd enjoyed it.

3. (transitive, cricket) To put a batsman out by catching the batted ball before it touches the ground.

• The object of this verb is usually placed between catch and out.

• outcatch