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Nina_Nia Posted 15 years ago
Vocabulary

To catch smb out

Hello,

What is the meaning of ' to catch smb out' in this sentence? Does it mean to surprise someone and put them in a difficult situation?

" Be careful answering quetions during your interview - this journalist can easily catch you out on subjects you may not like to discuss."

Thanks
  

Top answer

Does it mean to surprise someone and put them in a difficult situation? Yes, basically. It's definitely a British English expression, and my British colleagues would be better suited to help.

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3 Answers
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Does it mean to surprise someone and put them in a difficult situation? Yes, basically.

It's definitely a British English expression, and my British colleagues would be better suited to help. But, as I have heard it used, it often means to make you say something you might not to have made public, to befuddle and confuse so that you will sa
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Hi,

As you said, to catch somebody out means to surprise somebody and put them in a difficult situation

where they wouldn't expect to be. Also, there are contexts in which it's used to make fun of the miserable

person. For example: I was caught out when my friend found out that I had told her lies.

In addition, we might catch somebody out when we wish to
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Hello,

I am on the left. I think she is... Emotion: big smile