{"id":6338,"date":"2017-12-06T09:00:22","date_gmt":"2017-12-06T14:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/english\/?p=6338"},"modified":"2017-12-05T09:29:41","modified_gmt":"2017-12-05T14:29:41","slug":"english-phrases-and-idioms-with-catch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/english\/english-phrases-and-idioms-with-catch\/","title":{"rendered":"English Phrases and Idioms With “Catch”"},"content":{"rendered":"

English can be a confusing language. There are so many words in English that can have different meanings depending on the context. Add in slang and idioms, and ESL learners can often find themselves quite confused even though they know the meaning of a word on its own. In this post, we’ll look at some English phrases and idioms with “catch” and give you the meaning and usage.<\/p>\n

catch up (to someone or something)<\/h3>\n
\"English<\/a>

I need to catch up to my friends. Maybe then I can catch up with them.<\/p><\/div>\n

Meaning<\/em>: to go faster so you can reach someone\/something ahead of you; to improve to reach the same standard as someone\/something<\/p>\n

Example<\/em>: “Let’s walk a little faster so we can catch up<\/strong> with them.”<\/p>\n

“Will the United States ever catch up<\/strong> with Japan in high-speed trains?”<\/p>\n

catch up (with someone or something)<\/h3>\n

Meaning<\/em>: to do something you didn’t have time for earlier; to discuss what has happened since the last time you met<\/p>\n

Example<\/em>: “I was busy traveling all week, so I need to catch up<\/strong> on the news.”<\/p>\n

“It’s been so long since we got together. We really need to catch up<\/strong>.”<\/p>\n

catch on<\/h3>\n

Meaning<\/em>: understand what is meant or how to do something; to become popular<\/p>\n

Example<\/em>: “He didn’t catch on<\/strong> at first, be he understood eventually.”<\/p>\n

“I wonder if American football will ever catch on<\/strong> in the UK.”<\/p>\n

catch you later<\/h3>\n

Meaning<\/em>: an informal way of saying goodbye<\/p>\n

Example<\/em>: “I gotta go. Catch you later<\/strong>!”<\/p>\n

catch a break<\/h3>\n

Meaning<\/em>: to obtain or receive a lucky opportunity<\/p>\n

Example<\/em>: “She’s been working so hard to get into acting. I really hope she can catch a break<\/strong> one of these days.”<\/p>\n

catch your breath<\/h3>\n

Meaning<\/em>: to wait and rest for a moment after you’ve been very active<\/p>\n

Example<\/em>: “Wow this hike is difficult! I need to stop for a minute to catch my breath<\/strong>.”<\/p>\n

catch some z\u2019s<\/h3>\n

Meaning<\/em>: get some sleep (in comics, a bubble showing “zzz” usually appears above someone sleeping)<\/p>\n

Example<\/em>: “It’s been a long day. I’m going to catch some z’s.”<\/p>\n

catch of the day<\/h3>\n
\"\"<\/a>

The catch of the day looks good!<\/p><\/div>\n

Meaning<\/em>: the fish offered on a particular day at a restaurant<\/p>\n

Example<\/em>: “What’s the catch of the day<\/strong> today?”<\/p>\n

“It’s mahi-mahi, and it’s delicious!”<\/p>\n

she\u2019s\/he\u2019s a catch<\/h3>\n

Meaning<\/em>: someone is good to have a relationship with or marry because they’re attractive, smart, rich, etc.<\/p>\n

Example<\/em>: “He’s a lawyer and<\/em> he’s handsome? You should definitely date him. He’s a catch<\/strong>!”<\/p>\n

catch a cold<\/h3>\n

Meaning<\/em>: become infected with a cold<\/p>\n

Example<\/em>: “It’s freezing out there! Put on your hat and gloves or you’ll catch a cold<\/strong>.”<\/p>\n

catch-22<\/h3>\n

Meaning<\/em>: a dilemma or difficult situation from which there is no escape; also the title of a novel by Joseph Heller<\/p>\n

Example<\/em>: “I need to get a job, but I don’t have enough experience. In order to get experience, I need a job. It’s a real catch-22<\/strong>.”<\/p>\n

Sorry, I didn\u2019t catch that.<\/h3>\n

Meaning<\/em>: I beg your pardon; I didn’t understand<\/p>\n

Example<\/em>: “Sorry it’s really noisy in here.\u00a0I didn’t catch that<\/strong>. Could you please repeat that?”<\/p>\n

What\u2019s the catch?<\/h3>\n

Meaning<\/em>: a question following something that sounds too good to be true, because you think there is a condition<\/p>\n

Example<\/em>: “Wow! Do you see that? They’re giving away a free trip to Hawaii!”<\/p>\n

“Sounds too good to be true. What’s the catch<\/strong>?”<\/p>\n

“Well, you need to attend a time-share meeting for half a day and win a raffle at the end…”<\/p>\n

to catch someone red-handed<\/h3>\n

Meaning<\/em>: to discover someone while they are doing something bad\/wrong<\/p>\n

Example<\/em>: “The boys were caught red-handed<\/strong> spray painting the walls at school.”<\/p>\n

to catch someone off guard<\/h3>\n

Meaning<\/em>: to surprise someone in a way that makes them confused<\/p>\n

Example<\/em>: “Did you have any idea he was going to propose?”<\/p>\n

“No! He totally caught me off guard<\/strong>! I had no idea!”<\/p>\n

to catch someone\u2019s eye<\/h3>\n

Meaning<\/em>: to be noticed by someone; to attract someone’s attention<\/p>\n

Example<\/em>: “I was looking for a gift for my mom, and this tea set really caught my eye<\/strong>. It’s beautiful!”<\/p>\n

The early bird catches the worm.<\/h3>\n

Meaning<\/em>: one who arrives first has the best chance at success<\/p>\n

Example<\/em>: “How did you get tickets for the concert? It sold out in 5 minutes!”<\/p>\n

“I was in line 2 hours before it opened. The early bird catches the worm<\/strong>!”<\/p>\n