Ways to Use the Verb CATCH

Ways to Use the Verb Catch (Collocations, Phrasal Verbs, Expressions)

Hello dear English learners! It’s lovely to have you here again. Today’s lesson looks at one of the most versatile verbs in English: catch. This little word appears in countless collocations, phrasal verbs, and everyday expressions. Once you know how it works in different contexts, your speaking and writing will instantly sound more natural. Ways to Use the Verb CATCH

Let’s explore the most common ways to use catch, step by step.

Collocations with “catch”

The basic meaning of catch is “to take and hold something,” especially something moving through the air:

• Tara threw the ball to me and I caught it.

But catch is used in many other useful expressions:

Catch someone’s attention

Meaning: to attract someone’s interest

• I can’t catch the waiter’s attention.

Catch a bus / train / flight

Meaning: to take public transport (and be on time)

• I have to hurry — I’ve got a bus to catch.

Catch someone’s name

Meaning: to hear or understand someone’s name

• Sorry, I didn’t catch your name. Ways to Use the Verb CATCH

Catch a cold

Meaning: to become ill with a cold

• Mary caught a cold and now she has a fever and runny nose.

Catch a sound

Meaning: to hear something

• His ears were open to catch any sound.

What’s the catch?

Meaning: what is the hidden problem?

• It sounds like a great deal… but what’s the catch?

Catch some sleep

Meaning: to sleep for a short time

• Martin tried to catch some sleep before work.

Catch a glimpse (of)

Meaning: to see something briefly

• She caught a glimpse of his eyes as he passed by.

Catch a game

Meaning: to watch a sports match

• Did you catch the football game last night?

Catch some sun

Meaning: to get a suntan

• We were at the seaside for only two days, but I managed to catch some sun.

Catch water

Meaning: to collect falling or dripping water Ways to Use the Verb CATCH

• He put a bowl under the leak to catch the water.

Catch someone doing something

Meaning: to see someone doing something (often wrong)

• They caught Miranda smoking on the balcony.

Catch someone before…

Meaning: to speak to someone before they leave

• Sarah hoped to catch him before he left the office.

Get caught in (a storm, traffic, etc.)

Meaning: to be trapped by something

• The tourists got caught in the storm.

Catch a criminal

Meaning: to arrest someone guilty

• The police caught the bank robbers.

Phrasal Verbs with “catch”

Catch at (something)

Meaning: to grab something quickly, often while it’s moving

• Milly caught at his shoulder as he walked past.

Catch on

Meaning: to become popular

• It took a while for the new series to catch on.

Catch out (someone)

Meaning: to show that someone is lying or making a mistake

• The interviewer asked difficult questions to catch him out.

Catch up

Meaning: to share news with someone you haven’t seen for a while

• I saw Sandra in town today, so we went for a coffee to catch up.

Catch up with (someone/something)

Meaning: when something begins to have a negative effect

• All the extra work finally caught up with her, and she fell asleep on the bus.

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