catch out
phr. v..phr. v.. to trick someone or put them in a difficult situation that they did not expect. You use this when someone makes a mistake because they were not prepared.
phr. v.. to detect a person in an error, lie, or inconsistency; to place someone in a disadvantageous position through an unforeseen event or trickery.
The difficult exam questions caught me out.
The sudden rainstorm caught us out without our umbrellas during the hike.
The investigative journalist managed to catch the politician out by referencing a contradictory statement made during a private meeting three years prior.
Commonly used in British English; often appears in the passive voice.
Focus on the 'surprise' element; it is often used when a person's lack of knowledge or preparation is suddenly revealed by a change in circumstances.
The rain caught out us.The rain caught us out.When the object is a pronoun, it must go between the verb and the particle.