Catch Idioms

(English Idioms & Sayings) Catch Idioms

catch-22

- a situation which contradicts itself, a paradoxical situation
It was a catch-22 situation and if I went to work there would be problems but if I did not go to work there would also be problems.

catch a cold

- to become sick with a cold
I caught a cold because of the rain and the cold weather.

catch-as-catch-can

- in any way possible
We are in the middle of moving house so our meals are catch-as-catch-can.

catch fire

- to begin to burn
We were very careful that the wooden house would not catch fire.

catch forty winks

- to get some sleep
I was very tired so I stopped my car in order to catch forty winks.

catch on

- to understand something, to learn about something
I was finally able to catch on and understand the math problem.

catch on

- to become popular
Recently ballroom dancing has begun to catch on with many people.

catch one`s breath

- to stop to rest and regain one`s normal breathing
After running from the station it took a moment to catch my breath.

catch (someone`s) eye

- to attract someone`s attention
I tried to catch my friend's eye but she did not notice me.

catch some Z's

- to get some sleep
I needed to catch some Z's after working hard all weekend.

catch sight of (someone or something)

- to see someone or something briefly
The police caught sight of the robber and began to chase him.

catch (someone) in the act of (doing something)

- to catch someone doing something illegal or private
The police caught the politician in the act of taking money from the business owner.

catch (someone) napping

- to find someone asleep, to find someone unprepared for something
The boss caught the employee napping and became very angry.

catch (someone) off balance

- to surprise someone who is not prepared
We were caught off balance when we discovered that our business license was no good.

catch (someone) off guard

- to catch a person at a time of carelessness
I was caught off guard when the teacher asked me about my homework.

catch (someone) red-handed

- to find someone in the middle of doing something wrong
The clerk caught the boy red-handed when he was stealing the candy.

catch up with (someone or something)

- to become even with someone (in a race or in schoolwork etc.)
I think that it is too late to catch up with the rest of the class now.


Posted by Learning English through Idioms and Sayings