ellos pillaron

they caught, they grabbed

→ pillar
pillar to catch, to grab, to get (hold of) + on they past tense
verb · third plural · past indicative Rare #24,340
they caught, they grabbed Often used informally to mean “they caught (someone) doing something” or “they got (someone)”.
SP: La policía lo pillaron en el aeropuerto.
EN: The police caught him at the airport.
Conjugation of pillar
Indicative past
SingularPlural
First pillé —
Third pilló pillaron

Y nos pillaron los adultos.

And the adults caught us.

— A Silent Voice (2016)

Lo pillaron fumando en el baño.

They caught him smoking in the bathroom.

Le pillaron copiando en el examen.

He was caught cheating on the exam.

Pillaron a Jim copiando durante el examen.

Jim was caught cheating during the exam.

No sé a quién pillaron.

I don't know who they caught.

— Reservoir Dogs (1992)

Lo pillaron con mercancía caliente.

They caught him with stolen goods.

— Reservoir Dogs (1992)

A Sami lo pillaron en el acto.

Sami was caught in the act.

Le pillaron con las manos en la masa.

He was caught red-handed.

Les pillaron con las manos en la masa.

They were caught red-handed.

Lo pillaron robando manzanas.

He was caught stealing apples.

Nunca me pillaron.

They never caught me.

Le pillaron haciendo trampas en el examen.

He was caught cheating on the exam.

Al final me pillaron.

They finally caught me.