📒 to stop and hold a moving object or person, especially in your hands
- She managed to catch the keys as they fell.
- I caught him when he fell.
- The dog caught the stick in its mouth.
📒 to hold a liquid when it falls
- The roof was leaking and I had to use a bucket to catch the drips.
📒 to take hold of somebody/something
- He caught hold of her arm as she tried to push past him.
- He caught her up in his arms.
- She caught the bar with both hands as she fell.
📒 to be in time for a bus, train, plane, etc. and get on it
- to catch a bus/train/flight
- We caught the 12.15 from Oxford.
- I must go—I have a train to catch.
📒 to capture a person or an animal that tries or would try to escape
- The murderer was never caught.
- Our cat is hopeless at catching mice.
- How many fish did you catch?
📒 to get an illness
- catch something It is unusual to catch measles more than once.
- catch something from somebody I think I must have caught this cold from you.
📒 if something catches your attention, etc., you notice it and feel interested in it
- A sign on the wall caught my attention.
- Over the years, the mystery has caught the popular imagination.
- There was one story in particular that caught her interest.
📒 to notice something only for a moment
- She caught sight of a car in the distance.
- He caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror.
- I caught a look of surprise on her face.
📒 to hear or understand something
- Sorry, I didn't quite catch what you said.
📒 to find or discover somebody doing something, especially something wrong
- catch somebody doing something I caught her smoking in the bathroom.
- You wouldn't catch me working (= I would never work) on a Sunday!
- catch yourself doing something She caught herself wondering whether she had made a mistake.
📒 to be in time to do something, talk to somebody, etc.
- I caught him just as he was leaving the building.
- I was hoping to catch you at home (= to see you at home when you were there).
- The illness can be treated provided it's caught (= discovered) early enough.
📒 to see or hear something; to attend something
- Let's eat now and maybe we could catch a movie later.
- Did you catch that show on the radio?
- She looked for him but couldn’t see him in the crowd.
📒 to happen unexpectedly and put somebody in a difficult situation
- His arrival caught me by surprise.
- She got caught in a thunderstorm.
📒 to become stuck in or on something; to make something become stuck
- catch (in/on something) Her dress caught on a nail.
- catch something (in/on something) He caught his thumb in the door.
📒 to hit somebody/something
- catch somebody/something + adv./prep. The stone caught him on the side of the head.
- catch somebody a blow + adv./prep. She caught him a blow on the chin.
📒 to begin to burn
- The wooden rafters caught fire.
- These logs are wet: they won't catch.
📒 if something catches the light or the light catches it, the light shines on it and makes it shine too
- The knife gleamed as it caught the light.
- A colourful glow appears as the light catches the glass.
📒 if you catch the sun, you become red or brown because of spending time in the sun
📒 to show or describe something accurately
- The artist has caught her smile perfectly.
- Cameras caught Jessica headed to a photo shoot downtown.
📒 to make a player unable to continue batting by catching the ball they have hit before it touches the ground
📒 to be involved in an argument or fight between two other people or groups
- When they quarrel, I am often caught in the middle.
📒 to suddenly feel a strong need to go to the toilet
📒 to be put at a disadvantage
📒 to be in a difficult situation when any action you take will have bad results
📒 in a situation where you have to choose between two things, both of which are unpleasant
📒 to stop breathing for a moment because of fear, shock, etc.
- When he said he had resigned, I caught my breath in surprise.
📒 to start to be able to breathe normally again after running or doing exercise that makes you tired
📒 to become ill with a cold
📒 to have problems
- The film caught a cold over the outstanding debt.
📒 to catch a very bad cold
📒 to attract somebody’s attention
- Can you catch the waiter's eye?
📒 to attract or please somebody
- She looked through the hotel advertisements until one of them caught her fancy.
📒 to be punished or spoken to angrily about something
- If your dad finds out you'll really catch it!
📒 to get an advantage over somebody by doing something when they are not expecting it and not ready for it
📒 to surprise somebody by doing something when they are not expecting it and not ready for it
📒 to upset somebody by reminding them of something they are particularly sensitive about
📒 to catch somebody in the act of doing something wrong or committing a crime
📒 to arrive or do something when somebody is not expecting it and not ready, especially when they are in an embarrassing situation
📒 the person who takes the opportunity to do something before other people will have an advantage over them
📒 to make somebody unsteady and in danger of falling
- I was thrown off balance by the sudden gust of wind.
- The sudden movement threw him off balance.
📒 to make somebody surprised and no longer calm
- The senator was clearly caught off balance by the unexpected question.
📒 (to put somebody) at a disadvantage or in difficulty
- Advances in drone technology have caught lawmakers on the back foot.
- The side that’s on the back foot, struggling to defend, will usually give away more penalties.
- We'd like to put the fossil fuel industry on the back foot.