How do you use "Catch a case" in a sentence?

He caught a case for assault outside the bar. Keep acting like that and you're gonna catch a case. She caught a federal case for tax evasion.

Catch a case

Q: What does "Catch a case" mean?

To be charged with a crime; to get in legal trouble. To get arrested and formally charged with a criminal offense. 'Catching a case' implies the legal trouble has begun — you have been charged and must deal with the court system.

American Slang Term American ★★★★☆ Common Casual

Practice this with flashcards, quizzes & audio on WordLoci →

Meaning: To be charged with a crime; to get in legal trouble.

被控犯罪；惹上官司。

Ser imputado por un delito; meterse en problemas legales.

犯罪で起訴されること。法的トラブルに巻き込まれること。

범죄 혐의로 기소되는 것. 법적 문제에 휘말리는 것.

To get arrested and formally charged with a criminal offense. 'Catching a case' implies the legal trouble has begun — you have been charged and must deal with the court system.

指被逮捕并被正式提起刑事指控。'Catch a case'暗示法律麻烦已经开始了——你已被起诉，必须面对司法程序。

Ser detenido y acusado formalmente de un delito penal. 'Catching a case' implica que los problemas legales ya han comenzado: has sido acusado y debes enfrentarte al sistema judicial.

逮捕されて正式に犯罪容疑で起訴されること。「ケースをキャッチする」とは、法的トラブルが始まったことを意味し、起訴されて裁判制度に対処しなければならない状況を指す。

체포되어 정식으로 형사 기소당하는 것. 'Catching a case'는 법적 문제가 시작되었음을 의미한다 — 기소되어 법원 절차에 대응해야 하는 상황.

Examples

He caught a case for assault outside the bar.
他因为在酒吧外打人被控了罪。
Lo imputaron por agresión a la salida del bar.
彼はバーの外での暴行で起訴された。
그는 술집 밖에서의 폭행 혐의로 기소되었다.
Keep acting like that and you're gonna catch a case.
再这样下去，你早晚要吃官司。
Sigue así y vas a acabar imputado.
そんなことを続けていると、事件沙汰になるぞ。
그런 식으로 계속 행동하면 사건에 휘말리게 될 거야.
She caught a federal case for tax evasion.
她因逃税被起诉了联邦案件。
La imputaron por evasión fiscal a nivel federal.
彼女は脱税で連邦事件として起訴された。
그녀는 탈세로 연방 사건에 기소되었다.

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: criminal charges, warnings, legal trouble

Tone: warning, matter-of-fact

✓ Do Say

He caught a case.
他吃了官司。
Lo imputaron.
He caught a case.（彼は事件沙汰になった。）
그가 기소당했어.
Don't catch a case over this.
别为这种事吃官司。
No te busques un problema legal por esto.
Don't catch a case over this.（こんなことで捕まるなよ。）
이런 일로 사건에 휘말리지 마.

✗ Don't Say

Implies serious legal trouble — not a casual expression.
暗示严重的法律问题——不是随便说说的。
Implica problemas legales graves — no es una expresión trivial.
深刻な法的トラブルを意味する表現であり、軽い表現ではない。
심각한 법적 문제를 의미하므로 가볍게 쓰이는 표현이 아니다.

Origin & History

From street and hip-hop culture of the 1990s. 'Case' meaning criminal charges + 'catch' meaning to receive unwillingly.

Cultural Context

Era: 1990s–present

Generation: Millennials, Gen Z

Social background: Working class / Street culture

Regional notes: All regions — especially urban areas