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7 English Phrasal Verbs With 'CATCH'

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We have definitions for 7 phrasal verbs with 'CATCH'

7 phrasal verbs with 'CATCH'

Catch at

  1. Take or grab hold of something
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: She CAUGHT AT my sleeve as I was leaving and said she needed to talk to me.

Catch on

  1. Become popular
    (Intransitive | International English)
    » Example: Many critics were shocked when techno CAUGHT ON in the clubs.
  2. Finally understand what is going on
    (Intransitive | International English)
    » Example: Everyone else realised what was happening, but it took Henry ages to CATCH ON.

Catch out

  1. Trick
    (Separable [optional] | International English)
    » Example: The exam is designed to CATCH you OUT.
  2. Discover or prove that someone is lying
    (Separable [obligatory] | International English)
    » Example: He CAUGHT me OUT when he checked my story with my previous employer.
  3. Put someone in an unexpected and difficult situation (often passive)
    (Separable [obligatory] | International English)
    » Example: We were CAUGHT OUT in the storm.

Catch up

  1. Get work, etc, up to date.
    (Separable [optional] | International English)
    » Example: I was ill for a fortnight and now I've got to CATCH UP on the work I missed.
  2. Reach someone who was ahead of you
    (Separable [optional] | International English)
    » Example: He started well, but I CAUGHT him UP on the third lap.

Catch up in

  1. Become involved, often against one’s will
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: The tourists were CAUGHT UP IN the violence of the revolution.

Catch up on

  1. Do something that should have been done earlier
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: I'm going home to CATCH UP ON my sleep.
  2. Reminisce with an old friend after not seeing them for a while
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: I hadn't seen her for years, so we spent the afternoon CATCHING UP ON old times.

Catch up with

  1. Do something that should have been done earlier
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: I'm going home to CATCH UP WITH my sleep.
  2. Meet someone after a period of time and find out what they have been doing
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: I CAUGHT UP WITH her at the conference.
  3. When something negative starts to have an effect
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: His criminal behaviour is starting to CATCH UP WITH him.
  4. Punish someone after they have been doing something wrong for a long time
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: The tax authorities CAUGHT UP WITH me for not submitting my tax returns.
  5. Learn something new that many people already understand
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: My mother's trying to CATCH UP WITH computers.

Take our Exercise on 'CATCH'

Quiz for Verb: 'To CATCH'

Choose the correct definition for each phrasal verb...

'Catch on' means...

'Catch up with' means...

'Catch out' means...

'Catch up' means...

'Catch up with' means...

'Catch at' means...

'Catch up with' means...

'Catch out' means...

'Catch up' means...

'Catch out' means...

 

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