Significato: accused of manslaughter

accusato d'omicidio

aught Idioma

caught dead

(See wouldn't be caught dead)

caught flatfooted

not ready to respond, mind in neutral Esposito was caught flatfooted by Lemaire's slapshot - an easy goal!

caught in the act

caught doing a crime, caught with his pants down Two of the boys were caught in the act of vandalism. They were breaking car windows.

caught looking

be looking when you should have been acting I was caught looking when he hit the ball. I just watched it.

caught red-handed

caught with evidence, caught in the act The smuggler was caught redhanded with a kilo of cocain.

caught short

not have enough money when you need it I was caught short and had to borrow some money from my father last week.

caught up

busy with, involved Maidra is caught up in church activities. She's very busy.

caught with his pants down

found doing a bad act, caught in the act Percy was caught cheating - caught with his pants down.

get caught

found doing something, caught in the act Did Vi get caught driving without a licence? Did she get a ticket?

get caught up

do unfinished work, learn what you missed I have to get caught up on my studies. I missed two classes.

wouldn't be caught dead

would not like to do it, would rather die than do it Have you seen Lulu's miniskirt? I wouldn't be caught dead in that.

split one's sides with laughter

Idiom(s): split one's sides (with laughter)

Theme: LAUGHTER

to laugh so hard that one's sides almost split. (Always an exaggeration.)
• The members of the audience almost split their sides with laughter.
• When I heard what happened to Patricia, I almost split my sides.

like lambs to the slaughter

Idiom(s): like lambs to the slaughter

Theme: DOOM

quietly and without seeming to realize or complain about the likely difficulties or dangers of a situation.
• Young men fighting in World War I simply went like lambs to the slaughter.
• Our team went on the football field like lambs to the slaughter to meet the league-leaders.

caught in the middle

Idiom(s): caught in the middle AND caught in the cross fire

Theme: ENTRAPMENT

caught between two arguing people or groups, making it difficult to remain neutral.
• The cook and the dishwasher were having an argument, and Tom got caught in the middle. All he wanted was his dinner.
• Mr. and Mrs. Smith tried to draw me into their argument. I don't like being caught in the middle.
• Bill and Ann were arguing, and poor Bobby, their son, was caught in the cross fire.

come to naught

Idiom(s): come to nothing AND come to naught

Theme: EXTRAVAGANCE

to amount to nothing; to be worthless.
• So all my hard work comes to nothing.
• Yes, the whole project comes to naught.

caught in the cross fire

Better untaught than ill-taught

It's better not to be taught at all than to be taught badly.

Caught with your hand in the cookie jar

(USA) If someone is caught with his or her hand in the cookie jar, he or she is caught doing something wrong.

Laughter is the best medicine

Laughing is often helpful for healing, especially emotional healing.

be caught red-handed

be caught doing something bad: "The children were caught red-handed picking the flowers."

canned laughter|can|canned|laughter

n., informal The sounds of laughter heard on certain television programs that were obviously not recorded in front of a live audience and are played for the benefit of the audience from a stereo track to underscore the funny points. "How can there be an audience in this show when it is taking place in the jungle? Why, it's canned laughter you're hearing."

caught short|be caught short|catch|caught|short

adj. phr., informal Not having enough of something when you need it. Mrs. Ford was caught short when the newspaper boy came for his money a day early. The man was caught short of clothes when he had to go on a trip.

come to naught|come|naught

v. phr. To end in failure; fail; be in vain. The dog's attempts to climb the tree after the cat came to nothing.

for aught|aught|for

To the extent that.

Used like a negative with "care" and "know". For all I care, you can throw it away. For all he knows, we might be in Boston.
Compare: AS FAR AS², ONCE AND FOR ALL.

go for nothing|go|go for|go for naught|naught|noth

v. phr. To count for nothing; be useless; be wasted. What the teacher said went for nothing because the pupils did not pay attention. I hope that all your good work doesn't go for naught.
Compare: IN VAIN.

canned laughter

canned laughter
Also, canned music. Prerecorded sound effects that can be played repeatedly, as in That canned laughter doesn't make his jokes any funnier, or Canned music is greatly reducing the number of musical jobs available. O. Henry had the term in his story, Cabbages and Kings (1903): “We'll export canned music to the Latins.” Canned laughter today is often used in broadcasting to simulate the reaction of a nonexistent live audience. [c. 1900]

caught

caught
In addition to the idioms beginning with caught, also see under catch.
* * *
- caught dead, wouldn't be
- caught flat-footed
- caught in the middle
- caught short
- caught with one's pants down, be

caught dead, wouldn't be

caught dead, wouldn't be
Also, wouldn't be seen dead. Would have nothing to do with, detest, as in I wouldn't be caught dead in that outfit, or He'd not be seen dead drinking a cheap wine. This hyperbole is always put negatively. [Colloquial; first half of 1900s]

caught flat-footed

caught flat-footed
Caught unprepared, taken by surprise, as in The reporter's question caught the President flat-footed. This usage comes from one or another sport in which a player should be on his or her toes, ready to act. [c. 1900]

caught with one's pants down, be

caught with one's pants down, be
Be surprised in an embarrassing or guilty posture, as in We spent a lot of time preparing for the inspection; we didn't want to get caught with our pants down. This phrase presumably alludes to someone's pants being lowered to attend to bathroom needs but is not considered particularly vulgar. It is similar to off guard and, if wrongdoing is discovered, catch red-handed. [Colloquial; early 1900s]

like a lamb to the slaughter

like a lamb to the slaughter
Also, as lambs to the slaughter. Innocently and helplessly, without realizing the danger. For example, She agreed to appeal to the board, little knowing she would go like a lamb to the slaughter. This expression appears in several biblical books (Isaiah, Jeremiah), and the simile itself was used by Chaucer.

naught

naught
see come to nothing.

not be caught dead

not be caught dead
see caught dead, wouldn't be.

shake with laughter

shake with laughter
Convulse with the humor of something, as in When asked if he was planning to give away the bride, he shook with laughter at the very thought. [Early 1700s]