in the act

Prepositional phrase

idiomatic

(idiomatic) In the process of doing something considered criminal or otherwise wrong; used to emphasize the eye-witness evidence.

Japanese Meaning

（犯罪や不法行為に）加担している最中、現行犯でいる状態を示す表現。目撃証拠があることを強調する際に用いられる。

The shopkeeper caught the teenager in the act of shoplifting a jacket.

店主はその少年がジャケットを万引きしているところを現行犯で捕まえた。

Sense（1）

(idiomatic) In the process of doing something considered criminal or otherwise wrong; used to emphasize the eye-witness evidence.

She denied it but she had been spotted in the act.