Imagine you’re engrossed in an intense thriller movie. The hero is close to catching the villain, and you find yourself whispering, “He’s almost caught him!” Now, isn’t that an interesting way to use the word ‘catch’? In English, we use ‘catch’ not only to mean physically capturing something, but also in many different contexts, each with its own distinct flavor. So, how about catching a break from the usual and diving into the world of English collocations with catch? Intriguing, isn’t it?
Get ready as I present to you a list of 29 commonly used English collocations with Catch:
1. Catch sight of: to suddenly see something or someone.
Example: I caught sight of a deer in the forest.
2. Catch someone’s eye: to attract someone’s attention.
Example: The red dress in the shop window caught my eye.
3. Catch a glimpse of: to see something or someone for a brief moment.
Example: I caught a glimpse of the movie star as she entered the building.
4. Catch a cold: to become ill with a cold.
Example: I caught a cold after walking in the rain.
5. Catch fire: to start burning.
Example: The dry grass quickly caught fire.
6. Catch someone’s attention: to get someone to notice something.
Example: The loud noise caught everyone’s attention.
7. Catch a break: to have a good opportunity or a bit of luck.
Example: After many failed attempts, he finally caught a break.
8. Catch your breath: to rest and regain normal breathing after physical exertion.
Example: I needed to catch my breath after the run.
9. Catch someone red-handed: to find someone in the act of doing something wrong.
Example: The police caught the thief red-handed.
10. Catch someone off guard: to surprise someone.
Example: The question caught her off guard.
11. Catch the wind: to fill with air, typically for sails.
Example: The sails caught the wind, and the boat started moving.
12. Catch a train/bus: to get on a train or bus.
Example: I woke up late and missed catching my usual bus.
13. Catch someone’s fancy: to appeal to someone.
Example: The new book has certainly caught his fancy.
14. Catch someone by surprise: This is similar to catching someone off guard.
Example: The news caught him by surprise.
15. Catch a thief: to find and arrest a thief.
Example: The police are working hard to catch the thief.
16. Catch the bug: to become very enthusiastic about something.
Example: After the first dance lesson, she’s really caught the bug.
17. Catch wind of: to hear news or information about something.
Example: I caught wind of the upcoming sale.
18. Catch a wave: to ride a wave, typically on a surfboard.
Example: He’s really good at catching waves.
19. Catch a show/movie: to go and watch a show or a movie.
Example: Let’s catch a movie this weekend.
20. Catch on: to understand or realize something.
Example: It took me a while to catch on to the joke.
21. Catch up: to reach the same level or standard as someone or something else.
Example: I need to catch up on my reading.
22. Catch you later: This is an informal way of saying goodbye.
Example: I have to go now, catch you later!
23. Catch your death: This is an old-fashioned way to say you could get very sick, often from cold weather.
Example: Put on a jacket or you’ll catch your death!
24. Catch hell: to get in trouble or be severely criticized.
Example: He’s going to catch hell for forgetting her birthday.
25. Catch forty winks: to take a short nap.
Example: I’m going to catch forty winks before we head out.
26. Catch someone in the act: to discover someone doing something, often something bad.
Example: She caught him in the act of stealing cookies.
27. Catch the eye: to attract attention.
Example: His brightly colored tie certainly caught the eye.
28. Catch a whiff: to smell something, often when it is not strong or obvious.
Example: I caught a whiff of lavender as I walked by.
29. Catch some rays: This is an informal way to say sunbathe.
Example: She’s out in the garden catching some rays.
By using these collocations, you can express yourself more naturally and understand the English language at a deeper level. Keep practicing them in your day-to-day conversations, and soon you’ll find them catching on!