Idioms are groups of words with a fixed meaning unrelated to the meanings of individual words. Sometimes called expression, the term can be very colorful and make an "image" in our minds.
Collocations are a pair or group of words that are habitually juxtaposed.
Collocation and idioms with "catch"
Some collocation and idioms with "catch" can form sentences "as a verb and noun" or use them as "idioms." Here are some:
1. Catch a bus/ a train: Literally, to take a bus/train.
- You'd really need to catch a bus.
2. Catch a chill: Literally, to catch a cold.
- If you have a small hat available, put it on the baby so it doesn't catch a chill.
3. Catch a cold: To become ill with the common cold.
- If you get caught in the rain, you might catch a cold.
4. Catch a glimpse of (someone or something): To see someone or something very briefly or suddenly.
- Wendy only caught a glimpse of the burglar for a second, so she couldn't describe his appearance to the police.
5. Catch a thief: Literally, to catch someone stealing.
- You're here to catch a thief.
6. Catch a whiff: To breathe in (air, gas, smoke, etc.).
- I caught a whiff of peachy perfume.
7. Catch sight of: To see someone or something very briefly or suddenly.
- Wendy only caught sight of the burglar for a second, so she couldn't describe his appearance to the police.
8. Catch someone’s attention: Literally, to get someone's attention.
- The silver plated caster on the dining table catch her attention.
9. Catch (one's) eye:
A: To attract one's attention, often by making eye contact.
- The server still hasn't taken our order—we just can't catch her eye.
B: To attract one's interest, especially due to being visually appealing or attractive.
- That dress in the window caught my eye immediately—can I try it on?
10. Catch the flu: Literally, to get influenza.
- Sara seems to catch the flu every year.
11. Catch You Later!: See you later; we will meet again later (at an unspecified time).
- That was a really great time. I'll catch you later, man.
12. Catch your breath: Stop breathing for a moment (because of surprise, fear, shock, etc.):
- The magnificent view made us catch our breath.
13. Catch (one's) breath:
A: To resume or try to resume breathing normally after a physically taxing activity that results in heavy breathing.
- Can we stop for a minute? I need to catch my breath—I can't run as fast as you guys!
B: To stop breathing momentarily as a result of fear or surprise.
- I caught my breath when I saw the gruesome injuries Adam had sustained in the accident.
14. Catch (on) fire: To begin to burn, usually after being touched by an existing fire.
- Hey, keep an eye on that pan, I don't want our dinner to catch on fire.
15. Catch (one) at a bad time: To encounter or try to communicate or work with someone at an inopportune time, such as when they are busy or preoccupied.
- I'll definitely help you with that report later—you just happened to catch me at a bad time right now.
16. Catch (one) cold:
A: To surprise someone with something. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is always used between "catch" and "cold."
- News that I'd gotten the promotion really caught me cold—I didn't think they were seriously considering me for it!
B: To surprise an opponent in order to gain an advantage.
- If we can catch their defense cold, we should be able to tie the game.
17. Catch (one) in the act: To see, and perhaps apprehend, someone as they are doing something (often something nefarious).
- The police caught the robbers in the act of ransacking another house.
18. Catch (one) off (one's) guard: To engage, take advantage of, or seize upon one when one is not especially careful, vigilant, or prepared for danger or surprises.
- He's got a lot of tricky moves, so make sure he doesn't catch you off your guard!
19. Catch (one) on the flip side: To see one at a later time or date. Usually used as an informal farewell. Primarily heard in US. Slang
- Thanks for having me over, but I'd better head out now. I'll catch you on the flip side!
20. Catch (one) red-handed: To see, and perhaps apprehend, someone as they are doing something (often something nefarious). The phrase might have originally referred to blood on a murderer's hands.
- The police caught the robbers red-handed as they ransacked another house.
21. Catch (one's) breath:
A: To resume or try to resume breathing normally after a physically taxing activity that results in heavy breathing.
- Can we stop for a minute? I need to catch my breath—I can't run as fast as you guys!
B: To stop breathing momentarily as a result of fear or surprise.
I caught my breath when I saw the gruesome injuries Adam had sustained in the accident.
22. Catch (the) headlines: To be featured on the headlines of news articles, as due to being particularly important, popular, fashionable, etc.
- It may not be so tremendous as to catch the headlines, but this small change in immigration law could have a huge impact on foreign workers.
23. Catch a smooch: To share a kiss (with someone). Informal
- Is there anything better than catching a smooch from the girl you have a crush on?
24. Catch a Tartar: To encounter or be forced to reckon with someone or something that proves more powerful, troublesome, or formidable than one expected.
- They thought that I would simply give up if my complaint had to go to court, but they'll soon realize that they've caught a Tartar!
25. Catch at (something):
A: To find or see someone in the act of doing something (often something nefarious). In this usage, the guilty party is stated between "catch" and "at."
- The detective was able to catch the robbers at their next scheme.
B: To grasp at or clutch something.
- She must be nervous—she keeps catching at her purse.
26. Catch (one) at a bad time: To encounter or try to communicate or work with someone at an inopportune time, such as when they are busy or preoccupied.
- I'll definitely help you with that report later—you just happened to catch me at a bad time right now.
27. Catch forty winks: To sleep for a short time; to take a nap.
- Dad's upstairs catching forty winks before dinner.
28. Catch hell: To receive the brunt of another's anger, often through scolding.
- If I get home past curfew again, I'm really going to catch hell from my parents!
29. Catch (someone or something) in (something):
A: To physically ensnare or capture someone in something, such as a trap.
- After catching that raccoon in a trap, we set him free far from our house."
- I can't believe I caught my sweet little girl in a lie!
30. Catch it in the neck: To receive a very severe rebuke, scolding, or punishment for one's actions. Primarily heard in UK.
- Boy, I really caught it in the neck for screwing up the Lawson account. I'm lucky I didn't lose my job!
31. Catch the drift: To understand the general meaning of some situation or piece of information.
- Since I don't have time at work to read news articles in full, I usually just read their blurbs online to catch the drift of what's going on in the world.
32. Catch the next wave: To become involved with or follow the next trend.
- I developed my own unique fashion sense as a teen because I got sick of always waiting to catch the next wave along with the other kids in my class.
33. A catch to (something): A problem, drawback, or hidden detriment to an idea or situation, often one that is initially concealed as a means of entrapment.
- I know these sounds like a great job offer, but there's a pretty big catch to it—I'd have to move across the country.
34. Catch a break:
A: To obtain or receive a convenient, beneficial, and/or lucky opportunity.
- I finally caught a break when a big Hollywood producer asked me to audition for a part in the movie.
B: To receive special treatment or a favorable deal, especially regarding a reduced price on something.
- Tenants in the city center will be catching a break on rental prices when the city council introduces a new rent-control scheme next year.
- The detectives finally caught a break when an anonymous caller tipped them off to the kidnapper's location.
- We're hoping to catch a break from the drought with a little bit of rainfall this weekend.
35. Catch a snooze: To sleep or take a nap, especially of a short duration.
- I prefer getting the bus to work in the morning rather than driving, because it gives me a chance to catch a snooze on the way.
36. Catch air: To jump into the air, especially in a vehicle or on sports equipment (e.g., skis, skateboards, inline skates, etc.). "Air" is often preceded by a modifier such as "big" or "major" to emphasize the size of the jump.
- I love this ski slope, you can catch some major air off some of its jumps!
37. Catch (one's) death (of cold): To become ill with the common cold. This phrase is often used hyperbolically.
- You'll catch your death of cold if you leave the house with wet hair—it's freezing outside!
38. Catch (on) fire: To begin to burn, usually after being touched by an existing fire.
- Hey, keep an eye on that pan, I don't want our dinner to catch on fire.
39. Catch from: To contract a contagious illness. "Something" can be used between "catch" and "from" when referring to a non-specific illness.
- All of my students are sick right now, so I won't be surprised if I catch something from them.
40. Catch (one) napping:
A: Literally, to discover that one is sleeping when one is not supposed to be.
- "Why was Bill fired?" "I heard they caught him napping at his at his desk."
- We were able to sneak into the building because we caught the security guard napping.
41. Catch on
A: To become popular or widespread.
- Judging by my students, that obnoxious song is really starting to catch on.
B: To learn or understand something, sometimes after an initial struggle to do so.
- Thanks for explaining that concept to me—I think I'm catching on now.
42. Catch onto (something)
A: To snag on a particular surface, item, or material, usually with frustrating or unpleasant results.
- Be careful so that the zipper doesn't catch onto my dress—it's silk!
- You probably need to get your necklace repaired so that this little piece catches onto the clasp securely.
43. Catch some rays: To spend time in sunlight, often by sunbathing.
- I love lying on the beach and catching some rays.
44. Catch some Z's: To get some sleep. In illustrations such as comics, three (or more) Z's are often used to represent sleep or snoring.
- We've got a pretty long layover before our next flight, so I'm going to try to catch some Z's at the gate.
45. Catch the sun: To get sunburned.
- I caught the sun at the beach last weekend, and now my back hurts so much that I have to sleep on my side!
46. Catch up
A: Of friends or relatives, to update one another on life events that occurred since the last time seeing each other.
- It was so lovely catching up with you; it's been years since we were last together!
B: To make up the difference between oneself and someone or something, so as to be at an equal level, status, or point of progress.
- If we speed up, we might be able to catch up with the car ahead of us!
C: To give someone the latest information on a particular topic or situation.
- Anna caught me up already, so I know what to expect in this morning's meeting.
D: To make an effort to become current with something after having fallen behind.
- I missed this week's episode, but I'll catch up over the weekend.
E: To be fascinated, enthralled, or charmed by something.
- I'm sorry, I was too caught up in the emotion of the moment to hear what you were saying.
F: To lift or elevate something unexpectedly.
- A gust of wind caught up the letter and blew it right out of my hand.
G: To find (and, of police, to arrest) someone after a period of time trying to track that person down.
- The bank robber disappeared for almost a week, but the police caught up with him at the border of Mexico.
H: To be involved or mired in something.
- I refuse to get caught up in another one of your stupid schemes!
I: To stop using drugs. slang
- Yeah, she used to use drugs, but she's catching up now.
47. Catch up on (something)
A: To learn about something that one missed when it originally happened. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "catch" and "up."
- If you haven't been watching the news for the last few days, you have a lot to catch up on.
B: To do a task that one has neglected.
- I'm trying to catch up on work after being out sick, but my inbox alone might take all day!
48. Catch a buzz: To become mildly intoxicated without becoming completely drunk. Primarily heard in US, South Africa. slang
- At my age I can't go out drinking all night long anymore, but I still like to catch a buzz on the weekend.
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