same as catch
to put someone in an unpleasant or difficult situation that they are not prepared for
to show that someone has made a mistake or is not telling the truth, especially by asking them questions
He asked her casual questions to see if he could catch her out.
The impact, mild though it was, knocked what breath she'd managed to catch out of Patience.
They came close to being caught out by the weather during another climb on Mont Blanc.
catches out
catching out
caught out
There is no origin for this phrasal verb
________ all the timbers before you spray them.
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