Phrasal Verbs With “Catch”
Phrasal Verbs with ‘Catch’, Definitions and Example Sentences
Phrasal verbs are ubiquitous in English language usage, providing nuance and richness to our spoken and written communications. They are idiomatic phrases that consist of a verb and another element usually a preposition, an adverb, or a combination of both. One such popular verb that’s often used in these phrases is ‘catch’. In today’s article, we delve into the world of English language learning and focus on phrasal verbs with ‘catch’ [kætʃ].
Basic phrasal verbs with ‘Catch’
- Catch Up (with) – To reach the same level or progress at the same pace as someone or something. It can also mean to have a conversation to find out about recent events in someone’s life or status as someone else or provide/receive the latest information
- I need to catch up with my classmates after missing the last lecture
- Let’s meet for coffee so we can catch up on what’s been happening in our lives
- We caught up over coffee, it had been months since we had seen each other last
- She was absent for a week and is now catching up with her schoolwork
- I had to run to catch up with her.
- We‘ll have to work hard to catch the other firm up
- Catch Up on – do smth you haven’t been able to do until now
- I need to catch up on some sleep this weekend
- Catch On – To understand or become aware of something . The phrasal verb ‘catch on’ usually means to understand or grasp something after a period of confusion or misunderstanding. It can also mean to become popular or trendy
- It took me a while to catch on to the new computer software, but now I find it easy to use
- The play caught on and ran for two months
- The best thing about the new worker is that he catches on very fast
- It took him a while, but he finally caught on to the joke
- Catch Out – ‘Catch out’ is used when someone is discovered doing something wrong or caught in a lie, often unexpectedly
- The surprise inspection caught the student out with his illicit stash of snacks
- The detective caught the thief out with some smart questioning
- I’m sure the prisoner isn’t telling the truth; talk to him and see if you can catch him out
- Catch sight of – to see or notice something or someone, usually briefly
- She caught sight of her favorite actor at the film premiere and couldn’t contain her excitement
- Catch someone’s eye – To attract someone’s attention.
- The colorful display in the shop window caught my eye, and I went inside to explore.
- Catch a break – to have a stroke of luck or a fortunate opportunity.
- After months of searching for a job, she finally caught a break and received a job offer
- Catch someone off guard – to surprise or catch someone by surprise
- The unexpected question caught her off guard, and she struggled to find an immediate response
- Catch your breath – to pause and rest momentarily to regain your breath or composure after physical exertion or a stressful situation.
- After running a marathon, he sat down to catch his breath and replenish his energy
- Catch someone red-handed – to catch someone in the act of doing something wrong or illegal
- The security cameras caught the shoplifter red-handed as he tried to steal a valuable item
- Catch a glimpse of – to see something or someone briefly or partially
- As the train passed by, I caught a glimpse of the beautiful sunset over the horizon
- Catch the drift – to understand the general idea or concept without needing detailed explanations
- I didn’t fully comprehend the technical terms, but I caught the drift of the presentation and understood the main points
- Catch Off Guard – to surprise someone by doing something unexpected. To be caught off guard implies being surprised or taken aback by an unexpected event or piece of information
- The sudden resignation of the CEO caught everyone off guard
- Her sudden announcement about moving abroad caught everyone off guard
- Catch (someone’s) Eye – to attract someone’s attention. When something catches your eye, you notice it because it’s particularly interesting or attractive
- A stunning blue dress in the boutique window caught her eye
- The flashy poster caught my eye as I walked by
- Catch At – to try to find an opportunity; to seize a chance
- He’s been catching at any opportunity to impress his boss
- Catch Back – to recapture; to regain something lost
- The team caught back their lead in the last inning
- Catch In/ Catch Up In – to become involuntarily involved in something
- She was caught up in the political scandal although she had nothing to do with it
- Catch To – to understand or realize something
- It took a moment for the news to catch to me
- Catch Together – to gather or collect items hurriedly
- We need to catch our things together before the storm hits
Phrasal verbs with “catch” can add depth and nuance to your English conversations. By incorporating them into your language learning journey, you will become more confident and fluent in expressing yourself in various situations. Practice using these phrasal verbs in everyday conversations, and soon enough, they will become second nature to you. Remember, use these phrases in your day-to-day interactions to grasp them fully. Keep practicing, and soon, you’ll catch on to the beauty of phrasal verbs in the English language.