caught up in the moment

American

idiom

having one's attention so absorbed by immediate events or circumstances as to become overcome by emotion, prone to errors of judgment, or unable to notice or attend to other things.

Example Sentences

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caught up in the moment

At a packed wedding reception, where a couple is making the rounds and guests are caught up in the moment, slipping out unnoticed isn’t just acceptable—it might be the most polite option.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 13, 2026

But, caught up in the moment of his 85th-minute goal, striker Ekitike removed his shirt and held it up to the Liverpool fans in celebration.

From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2025

“Manny got caught up in the moment and admitted it,” Servais said.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 20, 2024

Meanwhile, the cards flicker past and people caught up in the moment get fleeced.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 5, 2023

I guess I got caught up in the moment.

From "Red Kayak" by Priscilla Cummings

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023