catch
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++catch1 /kætʃ/ ●●● S1 W1 verb (past tense and past participle caught /kɔːt $ kɒːt/) 1 
take and hold 接住HOLD a) [intransitive, transitive]HOLD to get hold of and stop an object such as a ball that is moving through the air 接住〔在空中移动的物体〕 → throw Stephen leapt up and caught the ball in one hand. 斯蒂芬跳起来一手接住了球。 ‘Pass me that pen, would you?’ ‘Here you are. Catch!’ “把那支钢笔递给我，好吗？”“给你，接着！” The kids were throwing and catching a Frisbee down on the beach. 小孩子们在海滩那边抛接飞盘。 b) [transitive]HOLD to suddenly take hold of someone or something with your hand 突然抓住 He caught her elbow to steady her. 他一把抓住她的肘部让她站稳。 Miss Perry caught hold of my sleeve and pulled me back. 佩里小姐抓住我的袖子，把我拉了回来。2 STOP/TRAP somebodyfind/stop SB 抓住某人 [transitive] a) CATCHto stop someone after you have been chasing them and not let them get away 抓住，捉住 ‘You can’t catch me!’ she yelled, running away. “你抓不到我的！”她大声叫着跑开了。 b) CATCHto find a criminal or enemy and stop them from escaping 捕获，逮住，抓住〔罪犯或敌人〕 SYN capture State police have launched a massive operation to catch the murderer. 州警方展开了大规模行动抓捕凶手。 If you go back to the city, you’re bound to get caught. 如果你回到城里，肯定会被抓住。3 see SB doing STH 看到某人在做某事FIND somebody DOING somethingCATCH [transitive] to see someone doing something that they did not want you to know they were doing 撞见，发现，当场抓住〔某人正在干不想让你知道的事〕catch somebody doing something I caught him reading my private letters. 我看到他在偷看我的私人信件。 Gemma turned around and caught the stranger looking at her intently. 杰玛转过身来，发现那个陌生人正紧盯着她看。catch somebody in the act (of doing something) (=catch someone while they are doing something illegal) 当场抓住某人（在做非法之事） The gang was caught in the act of unloading the cigarettes. 那伙人在卸香烟时当场被抓。 He was caught red-handed (=as he was doing something wrong) taking money from the cash register. 他从现金出纳机偷钱时被当场抓住。catch somebody at it We knew he’d been cheating, but we’d never caught him at it before. 我们知道他一直在做手脚，不过我们以前从未当场抓到过他。4 illness 疾病 [transitive]GET to get an infectious disease 患上〔传染病〕，感染上… Anton caught malaria in Mali, and nearly died. 安东在马里染上疟疾，差点丢了性命。 Many young people are still ignorant about how HIV is caught. 许多年轻人对艾滋病病毒是如何染上的仍然一无所知。catch something from/off somebody/something Typhoid and cholera are often caught from contaminated water supplies. 伤寒和霍乱通常是经由受污染的水源传播的。 I caught chicken pox off my friend at school. 我从学校里的一个朋友那里传染上了水痘。catch your death (of cold) British English spoken (=get a very bad cold) 得重感冒 Don’t stand out in the rain. You’ll catch your death. 别站在外面淋雨，你会得重感冒的。5 catch somebody by surprise, catch somebody off guard, catch somebody napping/unawarescatch somebody off guard, catch somebody napping/unawares catch somebody by surprise (also catch somebody on the hop British English)EXPECT to do something or to happen when someone is not expecting it or prepared for it 使某人吃惊，使某人措手不及 Her question caught him off guard. 她的问题让他措手不及。6 catch somebody with their pants/trousers down to discover that someone is doing something that they should not be doing or has not done something that they should have done 〔出其不意地做某事〕使某人猝不及防，令某人突陷窘境7 animal/fish 动物/鱼类 [transitive]CATCH to trap an animal or fish by using a trap, net, or hook, or by hunting it 〔用陷阱、网、钩等〕捕捉8 catch a train/plane/bus ON TIMEto get on a train, plane etc in order to travel on it, or to be in time to get on a train, plane etc before it leaves 赶上火车/飞机/公共汽车9 not miss SB/STH 未错过某人/某物BE IN TIME [transitive]TCM to not be too late to do something, see something, talk to someone etc 及时赶上 OPP miss10 get stuck 被卡住 [intransitive, transitive]NOT MOVING if your hand, finger, clothing etc catches or is caught in something, it gets stuck in it accidentally （被）夹住；（被）卡住；（被）钩住11 catch somebody’s attention/interest/imagination etc NOTICEto make you notice something and feel interested in it 引起某人的注意/兴趣/想象等12 not catch something HEAR spoken to not hear or understand what someone says 没听到某事，没听清某事；没听懂某事13 hear 听到 [transitive] to manage to hear a sound 听到，听见14 catch you later spoken used to say goodbye 再见15 do/see STH 做/看见某事 [transitive] spoken especially American English to go somewhere in order to do or see something 去做〔某事〕；去看〔某物〕16 catch a ride American English spoken to go somewhere in someone else’s car 搭便车17 you won’t catch me doing something (also you won’t catch me somewhere) spokenNEVER used to say that you would never do something 别指望我会做某事，我不可能做某事18 catch it PUNISH informal to be punished by someone such as a parent or teacher because you have done something wrong 受罚，挨骂19 catch a glimpse of somebody/something to see someone or something for a very short time 看一眼某人/某物20 catch sight of somebody/something to suddenly see someone or something that you have been looking for or have been hoping to see 忽然看到〔一直在寻找或希望看到的〕某人/某物21 describe well 成功描述 [transitive]DESCRIBE to show or describe the character or quality of something well in a picture, piece of writing etc 〔图画、文章等〕成功地展现[描述] SYN capture22 BURNburn 燃烧23 catch somebody’s eye 24 catch yourself doing something REALIZEto suddenly realize you are doing something 突然意识到自己在做某事25 hit 击打 [transitive]HIT to hit someone in or on a particular part of their body 击中，打到26 be/get caught in/without etc something DIFFICULTto be in a situation that you cannot easily get out of or in which you do not have something you need 处于困境/缺少某物等27 catch your breath 28 container 容器 [transitive]KEEP/STORE if a container catches liquid, it is in a position where the liquid falls into it 接住，盛住〔液体〕29 shine 照射 [transitive]SHINY if the light catches something or if something catches the light, the light shines on it 照在；受…的照射30 catch the sun informalMI if you catch the sun, your skin becomes red and sometimes sore because of the effects of sunlight 皮肤被晒红[伤]31 wind 风 [transitive] if something catches the wind or the wind catches something, it blows on it 截住〔风〕，受〔风〕32 sport 体育运动SPORT THESAURUS – Meaning 2: catch to stop someone who is trying to escape, especially by running after them and then holding them 逮住，抓住〔试图逃跑的人〕He raced after her, but he couldn’t catch her. 他在她后面拼命地追，但是抓不住她。The police caught the bank robbers after a car chase through the city. 警察在城里进行一场汽车追逐战后抓住了银行劫匪。arrest if the police arrest someone, they take him or her to a police station because they think that person has done something illegal 逮捕，拘捕Wayne was arrested for dangerous driving. 韦恩因危险驾驶而被捕。The police arrested him and charged him with murder. 警方拘捕了他，并控告他犯有谋杀罪。apprehend formal if the police apprehend someone they think has done something illegal, they catch him or her 拘捕，拘押The two men were later apprehended after they robbed another store. 那两名男子后来因为又抢劫一家商店而被拘捕。The killers were never apprehended. 那些凶手一直未被捉拿归案。nAll of the kidnappers were apprehended and convicted. capture to catch an enemy or a criminal in order to keep them as a prisoner 俘虏〔敌人〕；捕获〔罪犯〕The French king was captured by the English at the Battle of Poitiers in 1356. 1356年，法国国王在普瓦捷战役中被英国人俘虏。The gunmen were finally captured after a shoot-out with the police. 持枪歹徒与警方进行了一场枪战后终被擒获。take somebody prisoner to catch someone, especially in a war, in order to keep them as a prisoner 〔尤指在战争中〕俘虏〔某人〕350 soldiers were killed and another 300 taken prisoner. 350名士兵战死，另有300名被俘。nEllison was taken prisoner by the Germans during the retreat to Dunkirk.trap to make someone go to a place from which they cannot escape, especially by using your skill and intelligence 〔尤指用巧计〕把…逼进，迫使…进入Police trapped the man inside a bar on the city’s southside. 警方在城市南区的一个酒吧里堵住了那名男子。corner to force someone into a place from which they cannot escape 把…困住，把…逼入困境He was cornered outside the school by three gang members. 他在学校外面被3名匪徒堵住了。 PHRASAL VERBS→ See Verb table
take and hold 接住HOLD a) [intransitive, transitive]HOLD to get hold of and stop an object such as a ball that is moving through the air 接住〔在空中移动的物体〕 → throw Stephen leapt up and caught the ball in one hand. 斯蒂芬跳起来一手接住了球。 ‘Pass me that pen, would you?’ ‘Here you are. Catch!’ “把那支钢笔递给我，好吗？”“给你，接着！” The kids were throwing and catching a Frisbee down on the beach. 小孩子们在海滩那边抛接飞盘。 b) [transitive]HOLD to suddenly take hold of someone or something with your hand 突然抓住 He caught her elbow to steady her. 他一把抓住她的肘部让她站稳。 Miss Perry caught hold of my sleeve and pulled me back. 佩里小姐抓住我的袖子，把我拉了回来。2 STOP/TRAP somebodyfind/stop SB 抓住某人 [transitive] a) CATCHto stop someone after you have been chasing them and not let them get away 抓住，捉住 ‘You can’t catch me!’ she yelled, running away. “你抓不到我的！”她大声叫着跑开了。 b) CATCHto find a criminal or enemy and stop them from escaping 捕获，逮住，抓住〔罪犯或敌人〕 SYN capture State police have launched a massive operation to catch the murderer. 州警方展开了大规模行动抓捕凶手。 If you go back to the city, you’re bound to get caught. 如果你回到城里，肯定会被抓住。3 see SB doing STH 看到某人在做某事FIND somebody DOING somethingCATCH [transitive] to see someone doing something that they did not want you to know they were doing 撞见，发现，当场抓住〔某人正在干不想让你知道的事〕catch somebody doing something I caught him reading my private letters. 我看到他在偷看我的私人信件。 Gemma turned around and caught the stranger looking at her intently. 杰玛转过身来，发现那个陌生人正紧盯着她看。catch somebody in the act (of doing something) (=catch someone while they are doing something illegal) 当场抓住某人（在做非法之事） The gang was caught in the act of unloading the cigarettes. 那伙人在卸香烟时当场被抓。 He was caught red-handed (=as he was doing something wrong) taking money from the cash register. 他从现金出纳机偷钱时被当场抓住。catch somebody at it We knew he’d been cheating, but we’d never caught him at it before. 我们知道他一直在做手脚，不过我们以前从未当场抓到过他。4 illness 疾病 [transitive]GET to get an infectious disease 患上〔传染病〕，感染上… Anton caught malaria in Mali, and nearly died. 安东在马里染上疟疾，差点丢了性命。 Many young people are still ignorant about how HIV is caught. 许多年轻人对艾滋病病毒是如何染上的仍然一无所知。catch something from/off somebody/something Typhoid and cholera are often caught from contaminated water supplies. 伤寒和霍乱通常是经由受污染的水源传播的。 I caught chicken pox off my friend at school. 我从学校里的一个朋友那里传染上了水痘。catch your death (of cold) British English spoken (=get a very bad cold) 得重感冒 Don’t stand out in the rain. You’ll catch your death. 别站在外面淋雨，你会得重感冒的。5 catch somebody by surprise, catch somebody off guard, catch somebody napping/unawarescatch somebody off guard, catch somebody napping/unawares catch somebody by surprise (also catch somebody on the hop British English)EXPECT to do something or to happen when someone is not expecting it or prepared for it 使某人吃惊，使某人措手不及 Her question caught him off guard. 她的问题让他措手不及。6 catch somebody with their pants/trousers down to discover that someone is doing something that they should not be doing or has not done something that they should have done 〔出其不意地做某事〕使某人猝不及防，令某人突陷窘境7 animal/fish 动物/鱼类 [transitive]CATCH to trap an animal or fish by using a trap, net, or hook, or by hunting it 〔用陷阱、网、钩等〕捕捉8 catch a train/plane/bus ON TIMEto get on a train, plane etc in order to travel on it, or to be in time to get on a train, plane etc before it leaves 赶上火车/飞机/公共汽车9 not miss SB/STH 未错过某人/某物BE IN TIME [transitive]TCM to not be too late to do something, see something, talk to someone etc 及时赶上 OPP miss10 get stuck 被卡住 [intransitive, transitive]NOT MOVING if your hand, finger, clothing etc catches or is caught in something, it gets stuck in it accidentally （被）夹住；（被）卡住；（被）钩住11 catch somebody’s attention/interest/imagination etc NOTICEto make you notice something and feel interested in it 引起某人的注意/兴趣/想象等12 not catch something HEAR spoken to not hear or understand what someone says 没听到某事，没听清某事；没听懂某事13 hear 听到 [transitive] to manage to hear a sound 听到，听见14 catch you later spoken used to say goodbye 再见15 do/see STH 做/看见某事 [transitive] spoken especially American English to go somewhere in order to do or see something 去做〔某事〕；去看〔某物〕16 catch a ride American English spoken to go somewhere in someone else’s car 搭便车17 you won’t catch me doing something (also you won’t catch me somewhere) spokenNEVER used to say that you would never do something 别指望我会做某事，我不可能做某事18 catch it PUNISH informal to be punished by someone such as a parent or teacher because you have done something wrong 受罚，挨骂19 catch a glimpse of somebody/something to see someone or something for a very short time 看一眼某人/某物20 catch sight of somebody/something to suddenly see someone or something that you have been looking for or have been hoping to see 忽然看到〔一直在寻找或希望看到的〕某人/某物21 describe well 成功描述 [transitive]DESCRIBE to show or describe the character or quality of something well in a picture, piece of writing etc 〔图画、文章等〕成功地展现[描述] SYN capture22 BURNburn 燃烧23 catch somebody’s eye 24 catch yourself doing something REALIZEto suddenly realize you are doing something 突然意识到自己在做某事25 hit 击打 [transitive]HIT to hit someone in or on a particular part of their body 击中，打到26 be/get caught in/without etc something DIFFICULTto be in a situation that you cannot easily get out of or in which you do not have something you need 处于困境/缺少某物等27 catch your breath 28 container 容器 [transitive]KEEP/STORE if a container catches liquid, it is in a position where the liquid falls into it 接住，盛住〔液体〕29 shine 照射 [transitive]SHINY if the light catches something or if something catches the light, the light shines on it 照在；受…的照射30 catch the sun informalMI if you catch the sun, your skin becomes red and sometimes sore because of the effects of sunlight 皮肤被晒红[伤]31 wind 风 [transitive] if something catches the wind or the wind catches something, it blows on it 截住〔风〕，受〔风〕32 sport 体育运动SPORT THESAURUS – Meaning 2: catch to stop someone who is trying to escape, especially by running after them and then holding them 逮住，抓住〔试图逃跑的人〕He raced after her, but he couldn’t catch her. 他在她后面拼命地追，但是抓不住她。The police caught the bank robbers after a car chase through the city. 警察在城里进行一场汽车追逐战后抓住了银行劫匪。arrest if the police arrest someone, they take him or her to a police station because they think that person has done something illegal 逮捕，拘捕Wayne was arrested for dangerous driving. 韦恩因危险驾驶而被捕。The police arrested him and charged him with murder. 警方拘捕了他，并控告他犯有谋杀罪。apprehend formal if the police apprehend someone they think has done something illegal, they catch him or her 拘捕，拘押The two men were later apprehended after they robbed another store. 那两名男子后来因为又抢劫一家商店而被拘捕。The killers were never apprehended. 那些凶手一直未被捉拿归案。nAll of the kidnappers were apprehended and convicted. capture to catch an enemy or a criminal in order to keep them as a prisoner 俘虏〔敌人〕；捕获〔罪犯〕The French king was captured by the English at the Battle of Poitiers in 1356. 1356年，法国国王在普瓦捷战役中被英国人俘虏。The gunmen were finally captured after a shoot-out with the police. 持枪歹徒与警方进行了一场枪战后终被擒获。take somebody prisoner to catch someone, especially in a war, in order to keep them as a prisoner 〔尤指在战争中〕俘虏〔某人〕350 soldiers were killed and another 300 taken prisoner. 350名士兵战死，另有300名被俘。nEllison was taken prisoner by the Germans during the retreat to Dunkirk.trap to make someone go to a place from which they cannot escape, especially by using your skill and intelligence 〔尤指用巧计〕把…逼进，迫使…进入Police trapped the man inside a bar on the city’s southside. 警方在城市南区的一个酒吧里堵住了那名男子。corner to force someone into a place from which they cannot escape 把…困住，把…逼入困境He was cornered outside the school by three gang members. 他在学校外面被3名匪徒堵住了。 PHRASAL VERBS→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
catch• "Can I see that pen?" "Sure, catch."• They were questioning me about whether I could catch.• A lot of burglars never get caught.• Dion caught a cold on vacation.• I only caught about the last 20 minutes of the movie.• It's a really funny play, but goes too fast to catch all the jokes.• "We went fishing." "Did you catch anything?"• In this way there is less chance of being caught at a disadvantage or being ambushed by circumstances.• They too were caught by surprise.• I managed to catch her just as she was leaving the office.• I didn't catch his first name.• Linder appeared to waver for a moment, like a leaf caught in a breeze.• You caught me, I came willingly, and we enjoyed each other.• "You can't catch me!" she yelled.• "I bet you can't catch me!" yelled Katie, skipping away.• I was about to correct him, but I caught myself in time.• Every time I get caught or arrested I get asthma.• If we're quick, we should still be able to catch our train.• If you call around 8:30, you might catch Shirley.• Brooks was caught smoking in an airplane lavatory and fined $750 dollars.• Denise caught the bride's bouquet.• I think I must have caught the flu from Sarah.• As Yvonne shook her head, her earrings caught the light from the candles.• Before his eyes dull muddy grass turned into soft reflective banks which caught the sun a thousand ways.• From within, I catch the trill of a Pogues song.• I caught their act at the Blue Note Jazz Club.• Did you catch what the book's called?• Go on, jump. I'll catch you.caught hold of• It caught hold of a chair and, with a great deal of grunting, managed to tip it over.• Taking her completely by surprise, he caught hold of her arm and pulled her towards him.• I was just going to, when a guard caught hold of me.• That day, he caught hold of me.• On March 4 she caught hold of the end of her buggy and twice pulled herself to her feet.• He fainted from pain but caught hold of the iron railing of a house and remained erect.• Bowman caught hold of the short lever fastened to the valve and with his last strength pulled it down.get caught• On the wrong side of the knitting, this looks much neater and stops little fingers getting caught!• That way there'd be less chance of getting caught.• Nobody but the kids and I knew about it, and I never got caught by the eagle-eyed press.• Munir Karajah got caught in the crossfire on a riotous day in Hebron earlier this year.• I got caught in the middle of it.• But if we get caught, our lives can be traumatically affected.• And who got caught standing in the rain as gaskets blew and transmissions ground to a halt?• I am painfully aware of how we get caught up in our times and become contaminated by our own hypocrisy.catch somebody doing something• If you get caught stealing in some countries, they cut off your hand.• The officer caught me going 70 miles an hour, so I got a ticket.catch your death (of cold)• And let him catch his death of cold?catch the post• On his return he wrote several letters rather hurriedly because he was anxious to catch the post.getting caught• On the wrong side of the knitting, this looks much neater and stops little fingers getting caught!• That way there'd be less chance of getting caught.• The poorer ones lack the means to get out, and keep getting caught.• Funny thing is, he repeated the mistake in Game 4, getting caught in a rundown between second and third base.• Do you understand the danger of getting caught in the middle? 7.• Be careful of getting caught in the trap of total involvement with your computer.• I could see her debate, trying to decide which was worse: infuriating Rosie or getting caught spying on Lila Sams.• This will prevent it from getting caught up.catch a movie• Would you like to go to dinner, maybe catch a movie?• Would you like to go to dinner, maybe catch a movie?• Area jazz clubs and coffeehouses offer live music while visitors can catch a movie at one of two main theater complexes.catch2 ●●○ noun 1 [countable]HOLD an act of catching a ball that has been thrown or hit 接球（动作）2 [countable usually singular] informalPROBLEM a hidden problem or difficulty 陷阱，隐患，圈套，诡计3. [countable]D a hook or something similar for fastening a door or lid and keeping it shut 锁钩；挂钩，吊扣4. [countable]TA a quantity of fish that has been caught at one time 〔一次的〕捕鱼量5 [uncountable]DG a simple game in which two or more people throw a ball to each other 接球游戏6 a catch in your voice/throat a short pause that you make when you are speaking, because you feel upset or are beginning to cry 声音/喉咙哽咽，哽塞7. a (good) catch MARRYWANTsomeone who is a good person to have a relationship with or to marry because they are rich, attractive etc – often used humorously 理想的对象，理想的配偶〔指富有、漂亮的对象，常为幽默用法〕Examples from the Corpus
catch• Ex-Chiefs wideout Willie Davis has turned five of his 22 catches into touchdowns.• A tall, fair woman with legs as long as Julia Roberts', she would be a catch for his grand party.• There is a catch, however!• You get free meals and accommodation, but there's a catch -- you have to look after the children.• Many of the best deals come with a catch: they are only good through early summer.• The deal comes with a catch - you have to buy one before June.• Each morning, Troy goes down to the fish market to inspect the daily catch.• That was a great catch!• Anglers can take home limit or near limit catches daily.• I read to him, played catch in the alley and taught him how to ride his new bike.• Certainly in his bachelor days Johnnie Spencer was the catch of the county.• The catch is that you can't enter the contest unless you have spent $50 in the store.• The catch on my necklace is broken.• The men fish and sell their catch along the little promenade.the catch is (that)• Gulls circle as the catch is spilt on to the quay and arranged for auction on the following day.• But the catch is that heat pumps work best when it is not real cold outside.• Parents say the catch is that they have to be careful not to be too focused on these children.From Longman Business Dictionarycatchcatch /kætʃ/ verb (past tense and past participle caught /kɔːtkɒːt/) [transitive]1be caught in something to be in a situation that is difficult to escape fromThe government is caught in the middle of the dispute.The yen was caught in a downward spiral.2catch somebody by surprise/off guard etc British English to happen when you are not expecting it or not ready to deal with itThe sharp turn in share prices caught many investors by surprise.Many oil companies were caught flatfooted when oil prices fell sharply with the start of the Gulf War.3catch a cold British English informal if a business catches a cold, it begins to have financial problemsWith the economic downturn, the recruitment industry will catch a cold. → catch on→ See Verb tableOrigin catch1 (1100-1200) Old North French cachier “to hunt”, from Vulgar Latin captiare, from Latin captare “to try to catch”, from capere “to take”catch1 verb →10-19 →20-32
→THESAURUS1 →PHRASAL VERBS1catch2 nounLDOCE OnlineChinese
→THESAURUS1 →PHRASAL VERBS1catch2 nounLDOCE OnlineChinese
Corpus and of an to Business stop get hold
catch
catch1 S1 W1 /kætʃ/ 
verb (past tense and past participle caught /kɔːt $ kɒːt/)
1. TAKE AND HOLD
a. [intransitive and transitive] to get hold of and stop an object such as a ball that is moving through the air ⇨ throw:
Stephen leapt up and caught the ball in one hand.
‘Pass me that pen, would you?’ ‘Here you are. Catch!’
The kids were throwing and catching a frisbee down on the beach.
b. [transitive] to suddenly take hold of someone or something with your hand:
He caught her elbow to steady her.
Miss Perry caught hold of my sleeve and pulled me back.
2. FIND/STOP SOMEBODY [transitive]
a. to stop someone after you have been chasing them and not let them get away:
‘You can’t catch me!’ she yelled, running away.
b. to find a criminal or enemy and stop them from escaping
SYN capture:
State police have launched a massive operation to catch the murderer.
If you go back to the city, you’re bound to get caught.
3. SEE SOMEBODY DOING SOMETHING [transitive] to see someone doing something that they did not want you to know they were doing
catch somebody doing something
I caught him reading my private letters.
Gemma turned around and caught the stranger looking at her intently.
catch somebody in the act (of doing something) (=catch someone while they are doing something illegal)
The gang was caught in the act of unloading the cigarettes.
He was caught red-handed (=as he was doing something wrong) taking money from the cash register.
catch somebody at it
We knew he’d been cheating, but we’d never caught him at it before.
4. ILLNESS [transitive] to get an infectious disease:
Anton caught malaria in Mali, and nearly died.
Many young people are still ignorant about how HIV is caught.
catch something from/off somebody/something
Typhoid and cholera are often caught from contaminated water supplies.
I caught chicken pox off my friend at school.
catch your death (of cold) British English spoken (=get a very bad cold)
Don’t stand out in the rain. You’ll catch your death.
5. catch somebody by surprise, catch somebody off guard, catch somebody napping/unawares (also catch somebody on the hop British English) to do something or to happen when someone is not expecting it or prepared for it:
Her question caught him off guard.
6. catch somebody with their pants/trousers down to discover that someone is doing something that they should not be doing or has not done something that they should have done:
He’s not the first politician to be caught with his pants down, and he won’t be the last.
7. ANIMAL/FISH [transitive] to trap an animal or fish by using a trap, net, or hook, or by hunting it:
Did you catch any fish?
Early settlers caught rabbits and squirrels and even rats in order to survive.
8. catch a train/plane/bus to get on a train, plane etc in order to travel on it, or to be in time to get on a train, plane etc before it leaves:
I caught the 7.15 train to London.
There’s a train in now. If you run, you’ll just catch it.
I have to hurry – I have a bus to catch.
9. NOT MISS SOMEBODY/SOMETHING [transitive] to not be too late to do something, see something, talk to someone etc
OPP miss:
I managed to catch her just as she was leaving.
I just caught the last few minutes of the documentary.
Tumours like these can be treated quite easily if they’re caught early enough.
catch the post British English (=post letters in time for them to be collected that day)
10. GET STUCK [intransitive and transitive] if your hand, finger, clothing etc catches or is caught in something, it gets stuck in it accidentally:
His overalls caught in the engine.
Her microphone was forever getting caught on her clothes.
11. catch sb’s attention/interest/imagination etc to make you notice something and feel interested in it:
Lucie whistled sharply to catch the other girl’s attention.
This is a story that will catch the imagination of every child.
12. not catch something spoken to not hear or understand what someone says:
I’m afraid I didn’t catch your name.
13. HEAR [transitive] to manage to hear a sound:
I caught the muffled thud of a car door slamming in the street.
14. catch you later spoken used to say goodbye:
‘I’ll give you a call in a couple of days.’ ‘Okay. Catch you later.’
15. DO/SEE SOMETHING [transitive] especially American English spoken to go somewhere in order to do or see something:
We could catch a movie (=go to a movie).
M Records caught his act and signed him immediately.
16. catch a ride American English spoken to go somewhere in someone else’s car:
I caught a ride as far as Columbus.
17. you won’t catch me doing something (also you won’t catch me somewhere) spoken used to say that you would never do something:
I love dancing but you won’t catch me being the first on the dance floor!
18. catch it informal to be punished by someone such as a parent or teacher because you have done something wrong:
You’ll catch it if Dad finds out.
19. catch a glimpse of somebody/something to see someone or something for a very short time:
Fans waited for hours at the airport to catch a glimpse of their idol.
20. catch sight of somebody/something to suddenly see someone or something that you have been looking for or have been hoping to see:
I caught sight of her in the crowd.
21. DESCRIBE WELL [transitive] to show or describe the character or quality of something well in a picture, piece of writing etc
SYN capture:
a novel that catches the mood of post-war Britain
22. BURN
a. catch fire if something catches fire, it starts to burn accidentally:
Two farm workers died when a barn caught fire.
b. [intransitive] if a fire catches, it starts to burn:
For some reason the charcoal wasn’t catching.
23. catch sb’s eye
a. to attract someone’s attention and make them look at something:
Out on the freeway, a billboard caught his eye.
b. to look at someone at the same moment that they are looking at you:
Every time she caught his eye, she would glance away embarrassed.
24. catch yourself doing something to suddenly realize you are doing something:
Standing there listening to the song, he caught himself smiling from ear to ear.
25. HIT [transitive] to hit someone in or on a particular part of their body:
The punch caught him right in the face.
26. be/get caught in/without etc something to be in a situation that you cannot easily get out of or in which you do not have something you need:
We got caught in a rainstorm on the way here.
Here’s a useful tip if you’re caught without a mirror.
27. catch your breath
a. to pause for a moment after a lot of physical effort in order to breathe normally again:
Hang on a minute – let me catch my breath!
b. to stop breathing for a moment because something has surprised, frightened, or shocked you
c. to take some time to stop and think about what you will do next after having been very busy or active:
It was an enforced absence from work, but at least it gave me a little time to catch my breath before the final push.
28. CONTAINER [transitive] if a container catches liquid, it is in a position where the liquid falls into it:
Place the baking sheet under the muffin pan to catch the drips.
29. SHINE [transitive] if the light catches something or if something catches the light, the light shines on it:
The sunlight caught her hair and turned it to gold.
30. catch the sun informal if you catch the sun, your skin becomes red and sometimes sore because of the effects of sunlight:
You’ve caught the sun on the back of your neck.
31. WIND [transitive] if something catches the wind or the wind catches something, it blows on it:
Gary swung the sail round to catch the light wind.
32. SPORT
a. [transitive] to end a player’s innings in cricket by catching the ball that is hit off their bat before it touches the ground
b. [intransitive] to be the catcher in a game of baseball
▪ catch to stop someone who is trying to escape, especially by running after them and then holding them: He raced after her, but he couldn’t catch her. | The police caught the bank robbers after a car chase through the city.
▪arrest if the police arrest someone, they take him or her to a police station because they think that person has done something illegal: Wayne was arrested for dangerous driving. | The police arrested him and charged him with murder.
▪apprehend formal if the police apprehend someone they think has done something illegal, they catch him or her: The two men were later apprehended after they robbed another store. | The killers were never apprehended. | All of the kidnappers were apprehended and convicted.
▪capture to catch an enemy or a criminal in order to keep them as a prisoner: The French king was captured by the English at the battle of Poitiers in 1356. | The gunmen were finally captured after a shoot-out with the police.
▪take somebody prisoner to catch someone, especially in a war, in order to keep them as a prisoner: 350 soldiers were killed and another 300 taken prisoner. | Ellison was taken prisoner by the Germans during the retreat to Dunkirk.
▪trap to make someone go to a place from which they cannot escape, especially by using your skill and intelligence: Police trapped the man inside a bar on the city’s southside.
▪corner to force someone into a place from which they cannot escape: He was cornered outside the school by three gang members.
catch at something phrasal verb
to try to take hold of something:
She caught at his arm, ‘Hang on. I’m coming with you.’
catch on phrasal verb
1. to become popular and fashionable:
The idea of glasses being a fashion item has been slow to catch on.
2. to begin to understand or realize something
catch on to
It was a long time before the police caught on to what he was really doing.
catch somebody out phrasal verb
1. to make someone make a mistake, especially deliberately and in order to prove that they are lying:
The interviewer may try to catch you out.
2. if something unexpected catches you out, it puts you in a difficult situation because you were not expecting it or not fully prepared for it:
Even the best whitewater rafters get caught out by the fierce rapids here.
catch up phrasal verb
1. to improve and reach the same standard as other people in your class, group etc:
If you miss a lot of classes, it’s very difficult to catch up.
catch up with
At the moment our technology is more advanced, but other countries are catching up with us.
2. to come from behind and reach someone in front of you by going faster
catch up with
Drive faster – they’re catching up with us.
catch somebody up British English:
You go on ahead. I’ll catch you up in a minute.
3. to do what needs to be done because you have not been able to do it until now
catch up on
I have some work to catch up on.
I need to catch up on some sleep (=after a period without enough sleep).
4. to spend time finding out what has been happening while you have been away or during the time you have not seen someone
catch up on
When I got home I phoned Jo to catch up on all the gossip.
I’ll leave you two alone – I’m sure you’ve got a lot of catching up to do.
5. be/get caught up in something to be or get involved in something, especially something bad:
I didn’t want to get caught up in endless petty arguments.
catch up with somebody phrasal verb
1. to finally find someone who has been doing something illegal and punish them:
It took six years for the law to catch up with them.
2. if something bad from the past catches up with you, you cannot avoid dealing with it any longer:
At the end of the movie his murky past catches up with him.
catch2 noun
1. [countable] an act of catching a ball that has been thrown or hit:
Hey! Nice catch!
2. [countable usually singular] informal a hidden problem or difficulty:
This deal looks too good to be true – there must be a catch somewhere.
the catch is (that)
The catch is that you can’t enter the competition unless you’ve spent $100 in the store.
3. [countable] a hook or something similar for fastening a door or lid and keeping it shut
4. [countable] a quantity of fish that has been caught at one time
5. [uncountable] a simple game in which two or more people throw a ball to each other:
Let’s go outside and play catch.
6. a catch in your voice/throat a short pause that you make when you are speaking, because you feel upset or are beginning to cry:
There was a catch in Anne’s voice and she seemed close to tears.
7. a (good) catch someone who is a good person to have a relationship with or to marry because they are rich, attractive etc – often used humorously
| I |
verb (past tense and past participle caught /kɔːt $ kɒːt/) Date: 1100-1200
Language: Old North French
Origin: cachier 'to hunt', from Vulgar Latin captiare, from Latin captare 'to try to catch', from capere 'to take'
Language: Old North French
Origin: cachier 'to hunt', from Vulgar Latin captiare, from Latin captare 'to try to catch', from capere 'to take'
1. TAKE AND HOLD
a. [intransitive and transitive] to get hold of and stop an object such as a ball that is moving through the air ⇨ throw:
b. [transitive] to suddenly take hold of someone or something with your hand:
2. FIND/STOP SOMEBODY [transitive]
a. to stop someone after you have been chasing them and not let them get away:
b. to find a criminal or enemy and stop them from escaping
SYN capture:
3. SEE SOMEBODY DOING SOMETHING [transitive] to see someone doing something that they did not want you to know they were doing
catch somebody doing something
catch somebody in the act (of doing something) (=catch someone while they are doing something illegal)
catch somebody at it
4. ILLNESS [transitive] to get an infectious disease:
catch something from/off somebody/something
catch your death (of cold) British English spoken (=get a very bad cold)
5. catch somebody by surprise, catch somebody off guard, catch somebody napping/unawares (also catch somebody on the hop British English) to do something or to happen when someone is not expecting it or prepared for it:
6. catch somebody with their pants/trousers down to discover that someone is doing something that they should not be doing or has not done something that they should have done:
7. ANIMAL/FISH [transitive] to trap an animal or fish by using a trap, net, or hook, or by hunting it:
8. catch a train/plane/bus to get on a train, plane etc in order to travel on it, or to be in time to get on a train, plane etc before it leaves:
9. NOT MISS SOMEBODY/SOMETHING [transitive] to not be too late to do something, see something, talk to someone etc
OPP miss:
catch the post British English (=post letters in time for them to be collected that day)
10. GET STUCK [intransitive and transitive] if your hand, finger, clothing etc catches or is caught in something, it gets stuck in it accidentally:
11. catch sb’s attention/interest/imagination etc to make you notice something and feel interested in it:
12. not catch something spoken to not hear or understand what someone says:
13. HEAR [transitive] to manage to hear a sound:
14. catch you later spoken used to say goodbye:
15. DO/SEE SOMETHING [transitive] especially American English spoken to go somewhere in order to do or see something:
16. catch a ride American English spoken to go somewhere in someone else’s car:
17. you won’t catch me doing something (also you won’t catch me somewhere) spoken used to say that you would never do something:
18. catch it informal to be punished by someone such as a parent or teacher because you have done something wrong:
19. catch a glimpse of somebody/something to see someone or something for a very short time:
20. catch sight of somebody/something to suddenly see someone or something that you have been looking for or have been hoping to see:
21. DESCRIBE WELL [transitive] to show or describe the character or quality of something well in a picture, piece of writing etc
SYN capture:
22. BURN
a. catch fire if something catches fire, it starts to burn accidentally:
b. [intransitive] if a fire catches, it starts to burn:
23. catch sb’s eye
a. to attract someone’s attention and make them look at something:
b. to look at someone at the same moment that they are looking at you:
24. catch yourself doing something to suddenly realize you are doing something:
25. HIT [transitive] to hit someone in or on a particular part of their body:
26. be/get caught in/without etc something to be in a situation that you cannot easily get out of or in which you do not have something you need:
27. catch your breath
a. to pause for a moment after a lot of physical effort in order to breathe normally again:
b. to stop breathing for a moment because something has surprised, frightened, or shocked you
c. to take some time to stop and think about what you will do next after having been very busy or active:
28. CONTAINER [transitive] if a container catches liquid, it is in a position where the liquid falls into it:
29. SHINE [transitive] if the light catches something or if something catches the light, the light shines on it:
30. catch the sun informal if you catch the sun, your skin becomes red and sometimes sore because of the effects of sunlight:
31. WIND [transitive] if something catches the wind or the wind catches something, it blows on it:
32. SPORT
a. [transitive] to end a player’s innings in cricket by catching the ball that is hit off their bat before it touches the ground
b. [intransitive] to be the catcher in a game of baseball
| THESAURUS |
| (for Meaning 2) |
▪
▪
▪
▪
▪
▪
catch at something phrasal verb
to try to take hold of something:
catch on phrasal verb
1. to become popular and fashionable:
2. to begin to understand or realize something
catch on to
catch somebody out phrasal verb
1. to make someone make a mistake, especially deliberately and in order to prove that they are lying:
2. if something unexpected catches you out, it puts you in a difficult situation because you were not expecting it or not fully prepared for it:
catch up phrasal verb
1. to improve and reach the same standard as other people in your class, group etc:
catch up with
2. to come from behind and reach someone in front of you by going faster
catch up with
catch somebody up British English:
3. to do what needs to be done because you have not been able to do it until now
catch up on
4. to spend time finding out what has been happening while you have been away or during the time you have not seen someone
catch up on
5. be/get caught up in something to be or get involved in something, especially something bad:
catch up with somebody phrasal verb
1. to finally find someone who has been doing something illegal and punish them:
2. if something bad from the past catches up with you, you cannot avoid dealing with it any longer:
| II |
noun1. [countable] an act of catching a ball that has been thrown or hit:
2. [countable usually singular] informal a hidden problem or difficulty:
the catch is (that)
3. [countable] a hook or something similar for fastening a door or lid and keeping it shut
4. [countable] a quantity of fish that has been caught at one time
5. [uncountable] a simple game in which two or more people throw a ball to each other:
6. a catch in your voice/throat a short pause that you make when you are speaking, because you feel upset or are beginning to cry:
7. a (good) catch someone who is a good person to have a relationship with or to marry because they are rich, attractive etc – often used humorously
especially
see to become aware of sb/sth by using your eyes 指看见、见到、看出 ：◆ She looked for him but couldn't see him in the crowd. 她在人群里找来找去，但没看见他。 ◆ He could see (that) she had been crying. 他看得出她哭过。 spot to see or notice sb/sth, especially suddenly or when they are not easy to see or notice 指看见、看出，尤指突然发现或注意到 ：◆ I've just spotted a mistake on the front cover. 我刚才在封面上发现了一处错误。 catch to see or notice sth for a moment, but not clearly or completely 指瞥见、察觉 ：◆ She caught sight of a car in the distance.她瞥见远处有一辆车。 ◆ He caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror.他看了一眼镜子中的自己。 glimpse ( to see sb/sth for a moment, but not clearly or completely指瞥见、看一眼 ：◆ He'd glimpsed her through the window as he passed. 他路过时透过窗户瞥见了她。
Patterns
to see/spot that/how/what/where/who… to suddenly see/spot/catch/glimpse sb/sth
also
also
also