catch
to seize or capture, especially after pursuit: to catch a criminal; to catch a runaway horse.
to trap or ensnare: to catch a fish.
to intercept and seize; take and hold (something thrown, falling, etc.): to catch a ball; a barrel to catch rain.
to come upon suddenly; surprise or detect, as in some action: I caught him stealing the pumpkin.
to receive, incur, or contract: to catch a cold.
to be in time to get aboard (a train, boat, etc.).
to grip, hook, or entangle: The sharp branches caught his clothing.
to allow (something) to become gripped, hooked, snagged, or entangled: He caught his coat on a nail.
to attract or arrest: The painting caught his fancy.His speech caught our attention.
to check or restrain suddenly (often used reflexively): She caught her breath in surprise.He caught himself before he said the wrong thing.
to see or attend: to catch a show.
to become inspired by or aware of: I caught the spirit of the occasion.
to fasten with or as if with a catch: to catch the clasp on a necklace.
to deceive: No one was caught by his sugary words.
to grasp with the intellect; comprehend: She failed to catch his meaning.
to hear clearly: We caught only snatches of their conversation.
to apprehend and record; capture: The painting caught her expression perfectly.
South Midland and Southern U.S. to assist at the birth of: The town doctor caught more than four hundred children before he retired.
to become gripped, hooked, or entangled: Her foot caught in the net.
to overtake someone or something moving (usually followed by up, up with, or up to).
the act of catching.
anything that catches, especially a device for checking motion, as a latch on a door.
any tricky or concealed drawback: It seems so easy that there must be a catch somewhere.
a slight, momentary break or crack in the voice.
that which is caught, as a quantity of fish: The fisherman brought home a large catch.
a person or thing worth getting, especially a person regarded as a desirable matrimonial prospect: My mother thinks Pat would be quite a catch.
a game in which a ball is thrown from one person to another: to play catch; to have a catch.
a fragment: catches of a song.
Music. a round, especially one in which the words are so arranged as to produce ludicrous effects.
Sports. the catching and holding of a batted or thrown ball before it touches the ground.
Rowing. the first part of the stroke, consisting of the placing of the oar into the water.
Agriculture. the establishment of a crop from seed: a catch of clover.
catch at, to grasp at eagerly; accept readily: He caught at the chance to get free tickets.
catch on,
to become popular: That new song is beginning to catch on.
to grasp mentally; understand: You'd think he'd catch on that he's boring us.
New England. (in cooking) to scorch or burn slightly; sear: A pot roast is better if allowed to catch on.
catch out, Chiefly British. to catch or discover (a person) in deceit or an error.
catch up,
to lift or snatch suddenly: Leaves were caught up in the wind.
to bring or get up to date (often followed by on or with): to catch up on one's reading.
to come up to or overtake (something or someone) (usually followed by with): to catch up with the leader in a race.
to become involved or entangled with: caught up in the excitement of the crowd.
to point out to (a person) minor errors, untruths, etc. (usually followed by on): We caught the teacher up on a number of factual details.
Falconry. to capture for further training (a hawk that has been flown at hack).
South Midland and Southern U.S. to harness (a horse or mule).
Idioms about catch
catch a crab, (in rowing) to bungle a stroke by failing to get the oar into the water at the beginning or by failing to withdraw it properly at the end.
catch a turn, Nautical. to wind a rope around a bitt, capstan, etc., for one full turn.
catch it, Informal. to receive a reprimand or punishment: He'll catch it from his mother for tearing his good trousers again.
catch lightning in a bottle. See entry at catch lightning in a bottle.
catch one’s death (of cold). death (def. 14).
Origin of catch
1synonym study For catch
Other words for catch
Opposites for catch
Other words from catch
- catch·a·ble, adjective
- out·catch, verb (used with object), out·caught, out·catch·ing.
- un·catch·a·ble, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use catch in a sentence
Yet another video catches the sounds of the gunshots and shows Brinsley standing by the parked radio car.
Chris Stein of Blondie catches Ramone with an “aw, shucks” expression just after he drops a plate of food.
‘All Good Cretins Go to Heaven’: Dee Dee Ramone’s Twisted Punk Paintings | Melissa Leon | December 15, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTNot until someone catches on video one small glimpse of your everyday reality and even then, can you get justice?
‘Why Have I Lost Control?’: Cory Booker in ’92 on Rodney King Echoes Ferguson | Cory Booker | November 26, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThere is a consistent aesthetic to the art that catches Goyeneche's eye.
And the next time a beer label catches your eye, remember—it comes Battle-approved.
Such throats are trying, are they not?In case one catches cold; Ah, yes!
When certain catches were released counterbalancing weights came into action, and the curtain was run rapidly up from below.
Asbestos | Robert H. JonesAs for poor Dolly, if he catches her and tries to convert her to his ideas, the child has nimble feet and can run.
Dorothy at Skyrie | Evelyn RaymondNothing is more revolting than a woman who catches the tone and expressions of men.
The Ladies' Book of Etiquette, and Manual of Politeness | Florence HartleyThe sport became exciting at once, and David soon had half a dozen catches to his credit.
Gold-Seeking on the Dalton Trail | Arthur R. Thompson
British Dictionary definitions for catch
/ (kætʃ) /
(tr) to take hold of so as to retain or restrain: he caught the ball
(tr) to take, seize, or capture, esp after pursuit
(tr) to ensnare or deceive, as by trickery
(tr) to surprise or detect in an act: he caught the dog rifling the larder
(tr) to reach with a blow: the stone caught him on the side of the head
(tr) to overtake or reach in time to board: if we hurry we should catch the next bus
(tr) to see or hear; attend: I didn't catch the Ibsen play
(tr) to be infected with: to catch a cold
to hook or entangle or become hooked or entangled: her dress caught on a nail
to fasten or be fastened with or as if with a latch or other device
(tr) to attract or arrest: she tried to catch his eye
(tr) to comprehend: I didn't catch his meaning
(tr) to hear accurately: I didn't catch what you said
(tr) to captivate or charm
(tr) to perceive and reproduce accurately: the painter managed to catch his model's beauty
(tr) to hold back or restrain: he caught his breath in surprise
(intr) to become alight: the fire won't catch
(tr) cricket to dismiss (a batsman) by intercepting and holding a ball struck by him before it touches the ground
(intr often foll by at)
to grasp or attempt to grasp
to take advantage (of), esp eagerly: he caught at the chance
(intr; used passively) informal to make pregnant
catch it informal to be scolded or reprimanded
catch oneself on slang to realize that one's actions are mistaken
the act of catching or grasping
a device that catches and fastens, such as a latch
anything that is caught, esp something worth catching
the amount or number caught
informal a person regarded as an eligible matrimonial prospect
a check or break in the voice
a break in a mechanism
informal
a concealed, unexpected, or unforeseen drawback or handicap
(as modifier): a catch question
a game in which a ball is thrown from one player to another
cricket the catching of a ball struck by a batsman before it touches the ground, resulting in him being out
music a type of round popular in the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, having a humorous text that is often indecent or bawdy and hard to articulate: See round (def. 31), canon 1 (def. 7)
Origin of catch
1Derived forms of catch
- catchable, adjective
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with catch
In addition to the idioms beginning with catch
- catch as catch can
- catch at
- catch a Tartar
- catch cold
- catch fire
- catch in the act
- catch it
- catch napping
- catch off guard
- catch on
- catch one's breath
- catch one's death (of cold)
- catch red-handed
- catch sight of
- catch someone's eye
- catch some rays
- catch some z's
- catch the drift
- catch up
also see:
- early bird catches the worm
- get (catch) the drift
- takes one to know one (a thief to catch a thief)
Also see undercaught.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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