catch-as-catch-can

American  

[kach-uhz-kach-kan] / ˈkætʃ əzˈkætʃˈkæn /

adjective

1. Also catch-can taking advantage of any opportunity; using any method that can be applied.

   He lived a catch-as-catch-can life as an itinerant handyman.

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adverb

1. without specific plan or order.

   They traveled catch-as-catch-can, taking whatever bus or train was most convenient.

noun

1. a style of wrestling in which the contestants are permitted to trip, tackle, and use holds below the waist.

catch-as-catch-can British  

noun

1. a style of wrestling in which trips, holds below the waist, etc, are allowed

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adjective

1. using any method or opportunity that comes to hand

catch-as-catch-can Cultural  

1. A phrase that describes a situation in which people must improvise or do what they can with limited means: “We don't have enough textbooks for all of the students, so it'll be catch-as-catch-can.”

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catch as catch can Idioms  

1. By whatever means or in any way possible, as in There was no formal language program; one simply learned Spanish catch as catch can. This term, in slightly varying versions but with the same meaning, dates from the late 1300s.

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Etymology

Origin of catch-as-catch-can

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

Cone collection, done by local residents who are paid by the bushel, is a catch-as-catch-can kind of business.

From New York Times

The catch-as-catch-can “system” of aftercare for school children is a disaster.

From Seattle Times

Others had to be a bit more catch-as-catch-can.

From Seattle Times

Small brooches, equally popular, are being worn in inventive catch-as-catch-can, high-end-to-low-end D.I.Y. clusters.

From New York Times

For now, it’s a more improvised affair, with different students coming on at different times on a somewhat catch-as-catch-can basis, learning both at the farm and the restaurant.

From Washington Times