Cool MateArrest vs Bag him vs Capture vs Seize
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Arrest
FormalTop 1,000 (very common)B1verb
Bag him
InformalTop 5,000 (fairly common)
Capture
Top 1,000 (very common)B2verb
Seize
Top 1,000 (very common)C1verb
Most formal: Arrest
| Arrest | Bag him | Capture | Seize | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/əˈrest/","/əˈrests/","/əˈrestɪd/","/əˈrestɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈrest/","/əˈrests/","/əˈrestɪd/","/əˈrestɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //bæɡ hɪm//🇺🇸 //bæɡ hɪm// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈkæptʃə(r)/","/ˈkæptʃəz/","/ˈkæptʃəd/","/ˈkæptʃərɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈkæptʃər/","/ˈkæptʃərz/","/ˈkæptʃərd/","/ˈkæptʃərɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/siːz/","/ˈsiːzɪz/","/siːzd/","/ˈsiːzɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/siːz/","/ˈsiːzɪz/","/siːzd/","/ˈsiːzɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To taken someone by the police because they think they did something wrong. | Catch someone, usually for a crime. | To take something or someone and hold them. | To take something quickly or suddenly. |
| Example | The police decided to arrest the suspect after gathering enough evidence. | The police managed to bag him before he got away. | The photographer aimed to capture the beauty of the sunset. | The police decided to seize the stolen goods as evidence in the case. |
| Register | Formal | Informal | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | - | B2 | C1 |
| Part of speech | verb | verb | verb | |
| Collocations | arrest someone, arrest warrant, arrest for theft, arrest on suspicion | bag a suspect, bag a criminal, bag the prize, quickly bag him, successfully bag him | accurately, perfectly, beautifully, try to, be able to, manage to | immediately, suddenly, by, from, seize hold of somebody/something, immediately, suddenly, by, from, seize hold of somebody/something, immediately, instantly, quickly, be quick to, be ready to, be determined to, on, upon, an attempt to seize something, the power to seize something, the right to seize something, immediately, instantly, quickly, be quick to, be ready to, be determined to, on, upon, an attempt to seize something, the power to seize something, the right to seize something |
| Antonyms | release, free | - | release, free, let go | release, let go |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'detain' which means to hold someone temporarily., Using it without an object, such as saying 'He was arrested' instead of 'They arrested him.', Misusing the term for non-legal situations. | Confused with 'bag it', which means to quit or leave., Used incorrectly in formal situations., Mistaking it for literal bagging of items. | 'Capture' used without an object (e.g., saying 'I will capture.'), 'Capture' confused with 'caught' in past tense., 'Capture' improperly used in place of 'seize' which has a different nuance. | Confused with 'cease' which means to stop., Using 'seize' with wrong tenses, e.g. saying 'seized' when meaning present tense., Mistakenly using it without an object, e.g. saying 'I seize' instead of 'I seize the opportunity'. |
| Usage notes | Used primarily in legal contexts. Avoid using in casual conversation unless discussing crime or law topics. Can sound too serious for light discussions. | Common in casual conversation; may not be suitable for formal contexts. It can also imply making a successful capture, not always negative. | Use 'capture' when you want to express taking control of something, either physically or metaphorically. It's appropriate in both formal and informal contexts, but avoid using it in situations that imply violence. | Use 'seize' when talking about taking control or possession of something. It can be used in legal contexts or to describe capturing opportunities. Avoid in very casual conversations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Arrest vs Bag him vs Capture vs Seize
What's the difference between Arrest, Bag him, Capture, and Seize?
Arrest: To taken someone by the police because they think they did something wrong. Bag him: Catch someone, usually for a crime. Capture: To take something or someone and hold them. Seize: To take something quickly or suddenly.
Which is more formal: Arrest, Bag him, Capture, and Seize?
Arrest is the most formal of these.
Which is more advanced: Arrest, Bag him, Capture, and Seize?
Seize is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.
Can you show an example of each?
Arrest: The police decided to arrest the suspect after gathering enough evidence. Bag him: The police managed to bag him before he got away. Capture: The photographer aimed to capture the beauty of the sunset. Seize: The police decided to seize the stolen goods as evidence in the case.
Can I use Arrest, Bag him, Capture, and Seize interchangeably?
Not always. Arrest, Bag him, Capture, and Seize are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.