Catch | Mean of catch in English Dictionary

/ˈkætʃ/

• Verb
• to use your hands to stop and hold (an object that is moving through the air)
1. Catch the ball and throw it to first base.
2. She caught the ball with one hand.
3. I dropped the book but managed to catch it before it hit the ground.
4. I'll throw you the keys. Ready? Catch!
• to use your hands to grasp and hold onto (someone or something)
1. He caught [=grabbed, seized] her by the wrist.
2. He caught hold of her wrist.
• to capture and not allow (a person, animal, or fish) to escape
1. The police are working hard to catch the criminals and put them in jail.
2. “I bet you can't catch me!” she yelled to her brother.
3. I once caught 10 fish in a single day.
4. In the summer, we would catch fireflies and put them in jars.
5. catching mice in traps
6. lions catching their prey

• to manage to find, meet, or reach (someone) at a particular time or in a particular state or condition
1. I caught her just as she was leaving for work.
2. I'm afraid you've caught me at a bad time.
• to find (someone who is doing something wrong)
1. The police caught him trying to steal the painting.
2. My teacher caught me cheating on a test.
3. Her father caught her smoking in the basement.
4. You'd never catch me doing that! [=I would never do that]
5. They caught him in the act (of stealing the painting). = He was caught red-handed.
• to affect (someone) in a sudden and surprising way
1. They were caught unprepared by the crisis. = The crisis caught them unawares. [=they were not prepared when the crisis occurred]
2. The announcement caught me by surprise. [=I was surprised by the announcement]
• to suddenly stop (yourself) before you do something
1. Luckily, he caught himself before he gave away the secret.
• to suddenly become aware that you are doing something
1. He caught himself staring at her.
• to cause (someone) to be stopped, delayed, etc.
1. We got caught in a rain storm and had to find shelter.
2. I'm sorry I'm late. I was caught in traffic.
3. We got caught up in traffic and were late for our flight.
• to cause (something) to become stuck and unable to move
1. I caught my sleeve on a nail.
2. The kite got caught [=tangled] in the tree.
3. She tried to stand up, but her foot was caught in the strap.
4. My sleeve caught on a nail.
• to have the parts connect firmly
1. I tried to lock the door, but the lock wouldn't catch.
• to stop and hold (falling water)
1. They kept a bucket outside to catch the rain.
• to become covered with (something that moves through the air)
1. These curtains catch a lot of dust.
• to hit or touch (someone or something)
1. The bullet caught him in the leg.
2. His last punch caught me in the jaw.
3. Isn't it beautiful the way the setting sun catches the tips of the trees?
• to be hit or touched by (something)
1. He caught a bullet in the leg.
2. The tips of the trees catch the light as the sun sets.
• to become affected with (a sickness or disease)
1. We both caught [=contracted] the flu.
2. I seem to catch a cold every winter.
3. children catching colds from each other
4. It's freezing! You'll catch your death if you go out without a coat!
• to begin to feel excitement or interest about something
1. I haven't caught the holiday spirit yet this year.
2. People are getting really interested in the sport. The whole country is starting to catch the fever.
• to attract and hold (someone's attention, interest, etc.)
1. I tried to catch the waiter's attention, but I guess he didn't see me.
2. The show is more likely to catch the interest of an older audience.
3. Her books have caught the imagination of children from around the world. [=children find her books very exciting and enjoyable]
4. There was one dress in particular that caught my eye.
• to see, smell, or notice (something)
1. I caught [=got] a faint whiff of her perfume.
2. While you're in Hollywood, you might catch a glimpse of some movie stars.
3. I caught sight of his red shirt and started calling to him.
• to hear or understand (something)
1. What was that again? I didn't quite catch [=hear, get] what you said.
2. I didn't catch your name.
3. Do you catch my drift? [=do you understand what I mean?]
• to become aware of (something, such as an illness)
1. The disease is curable if caught [=detected] early.
• to have or do (something)
1. You can catch [=take] a quick nap on the train.
• to get (something) through effort
1. I managed to catch [=get] a ride into town with some friends.
• to meet with (someone)
1. “See you soon.” “Yup. Catch you later.”
• to move fast enough to be next to or in front of (someone)
1. She caught [=overtook] the leader in the final meters of the race.
2. He left before I did so I had to hurry to catch him. [=to catch up with him]
• to get on a bus, train, etc., before it leaves
1. If you miss the first bus, you can catch the next one in 15 minutes.
2. If you'll excuse me, I have a plane to catch.
• to see or hear (a show, game, etc.)
1. I only caught the last few minutes of the game.
2. Did you catch the show on Channel 4 last night?
• to describe or show (someone or something) in an accurate way in art
1. The new portrait catches her likeness perfectly.
2. The novel successfully catches the atmosphere of 19th-century Paris.
• to play the position of catcher
1. He catches for the New York Yankees.
2. If you pitch, I'll catch.
• to reach for and try to hold (something)
1. The baby caught at my dress as I walked past.
• to begin to burn
1. Newspaper catches fire [=ignites] easily.
2. Their house caught fire and burned to the ground.
3. Don't leave the towel on the stove. It could catch fire.
• to become very popular or effective
1. The idea failed to catch fire.
2. The singer hasn't caught fire in this country yet.
3. a new technology that has caught fire with the public
• to be punished or scolded
1. He's really going to catch it [=(US) catch hell] (from his boss) if he comes in late again!
• to become popular
1. This trend is catching on with/among college students.
2. Soccer is finally starting to catch on in America.
• to learn or understand something
1. Once you start playing the game, the kids will catch on pretty quickly.
2. It took her a while to catch on, but she eventually got the joke.
• to show that (someone) does not know something or is doing something bad
1. She loved catching teachers out by asking tough questions.
2. The police tried to catch him out in a lie.
• to move fast enough to join someone or something that is in front of you
1. They went so fast we couldn't catch up.
2. Slow down so that I can catch up with you.
3. She ran as fast as she could, but she couldn't catch up with her brother. = (US) She couldn't catch up to him.
4. In order to catch up with its competitors in the industry, the company will need to start using more advanced technologies.
5. She missed several months of school and may never catch up with the other children in her class. = (US) She may never catch up to them.
• to learn about recent events
1. We haven't seen each other in such a long time; we've got lots of catching up to do!
2. catching up with old friends
3. He reads the newspaper on Sunday mornings to catch up on the news.
• to do (something) that you could have done earlier
1. She has to catch up on her homework.
2. I hope to catch up on some much-needed sleep this weekend.
• to join someone who is ahead of you
1. He was ahead of me for most of the race, but I caught him up [=I caught up with him] at the end.
2. Go on ahead: I'll catch you up later.
• to begin to affect (someone) usually in a bad way
1. All those late nights are really starting to catch up with me!
2. Old age catches up with everyone in the end.
• to find and arrest (someone)
1. The police eventually caught up with him in Texas.
• not having enough of something
1. Don't be caught short! Make sure you stock up on supplies before you set out on your trip.
• having a sudden urge to use the toilet
• involved in (a difficult or confusing situation)
1. Several members of Congress were caught up in the scandal.
2. How did you get caught up in this mess?
• excited about something and having trouble thinking about anything else
1. Everyone was caught up in the excitement.
2. Try not to get too caught up in the moment.
• Noun
• a hidden problem that makes something more complicated or difficult to do
1. The phone only costs $20, but there's a catch: you have to sign a two-year contract with the phone company.
2. He said he would let me borrow his car, but I knew there had to be a catch.
3. What's/Where's the catch?
• the act of stopping a moving object (such as a ball) and holding it in your hands
1. Great catch!
2. The shortstop made a tough catch.
• a game in which two or more people throw and catch a ball
1. She used to play catch with her dad.
2. Let's play a game of catch.
• an amount of fish that has been caught
1. a catch of about 20 fish
2. She ordered the catch of the day. [=the fish offered on a particular day at a restaurant]
• a person who would be very desirable as a husband or wife
1. He was an excellent catch.
• something that holds an object or stops the parts of an object from moving
1. She fastened the catch on her purse.
2. The catch on my grandmother's pin broke.
3. a safety catch on a gun
• a short, sharp change or stop in a person's voice or breath while speaking
1. I could hear the catch in his voice when he said his dead wife's name.