This is the 4316th most frequent German word.
erwischten
"Erwischten" means "caught" in English.
In this sentence, 'erwischte' means 'caught' or 'apprehended', emphasizing the act of catching someone in the act.
Die Polizei erwischte den Einbrecher auf frischer Tat.
The police caught the burglar red-handed.
Here, 'erwischte' is used to describe successfully catching a bus, reflecting an accomplishment in arriving on time.
Ich habe meinen Bus gerade noch erwischt.
I just barely caught my bus.
In this context, 'erwischten' denotes seizing or taking advantage of an opportunity, indicating a metaphorical sense.