gotcha
Americaninterjection
Etymology
Origin of gotcha
A phonetic spelling representing the pronunciation of got you in continuous rapid speech
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In other words, it was a deliberate gotcha.
From Salon • Feb. 22, 2026
Fraser: It makes me feel satisfied, personally, to know that I picked something that was almost a gotcha surprise.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 15, 2025
“This convening, for too many people across America in education, feels like the ultimate gotcha moment,” David C. Banks, the New York City schools chancellor, said toward the hearing’s end.
From New York Times • May 9, 2024
And there’s no gotcha journalism here: Each was informed of my anti-breadcrumb/pro-crouton stance.
From Seattle Times • Mar. 7, 2024
He gives me a gotcha look, then reaches into his front jeans pocket and pulls out a chipped conch-shaped shell.
From "I'll Give You the Sun" by Jandy Nelson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
