cazar

To hunt, both literally (cazar ciervos, to hunt deer) and, very commonly, figuratively for catching or grasping something quickly — an idea, an opportunity, or someone in a lie: lo cacé mintiendo (I caught him lying). The fixed expression cazar algo al vuelo means to catch on to something instantly.

• Los lobos cazan en manada. — Wolves hunt in packs.
• La cacé mintiendo sobre dónde había estado. — I caught her lying about where she'd been.
• Es tan lista que caza las bromas al vuelo. — She's so sharp she catches jokes instantly.

The figurative 'catch someone in a lie / grasp instantly' sense is extremely common in everyday speech — a learner who only knows the literal hunting meaning will miss a large share of real uses.

• expression "Cazar algo al vuelo" — A common fixed expression, recognized by the RAE, meaning to understand or notice something instantly without it needing to be spelled out — a metaphor from hunting birds mid-flight.