in the act

Idioms  

1. In the process of doing something. For example, The police caught the robber in the act , or I was in the act of closing the window . [Second half of 1600s]

2. Performing sexual intercourse, as in Her father caught them in the act . [Late 1500s]

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Example Sentences

Meanwhile, locals are considering taking it in turns to keep a lookout in a bid to catch the fly-tipper in the act.

From BBC

She recounts how they had gone to the home of Holm's boyfriend, a man called Carl Cooper, and found him in the act of selling her clothes.

From BBC

Capturing a comet in the act of fragmenting is something the team had long hoped to achieve.

From Science Daily

A friend’s parent calls him “Turbo,” and he was doing all kinds of turbo things when the cameras caught him in the act.

From Los Angeles Times

“Russell,” said Lloyd, “do you need evidence when that big a crowd catches you in the act?”

From Literature