catch up
1. 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! You and I must really catch up with each other sometime soon. Sorry that took so long—I bumped into Kate in the checkout line, and we just had to catch up.
2. 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! The home team enjoyed a 21-point lead at half time, but their opponents have been steadily catching up. Mona's the fastest girl in the class—you'll never even catch up to her in a race, let alone beat her.
3. To give someone the latest information on a particular topic or situation. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "catch" and "up." Anna caught me up already, so I know what to expect in this morning's meeting. All right, catch me up on all the gossip I missed while I was out sick. How exactly am I supposed to catch you up on a 400-page novel during one lunch period?
4. 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. You need to catch up on all the homework you missed while you had the flu. My daughter skipped ahead a grade, and now she has to catch up on the work the third grade's been doing.
5. 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. The audience was totally caught up the actors' performance during the Broadway play. Good luck prying the kids away from the TV when they're caught up in a show like this.
6. To lift or elevate something unexpectedly. A gust of wind caught up the letter and blew it right out of my hand. Yikes, what happened to my hanging plants? Guess they got caught up in the wind during that storm. Hold on to your hat—literally! You don't want it to get caught up in this wind.
7. 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. You won't get away with this, sonny! The feds will catch up with you eventually! The fuzz won't catch up to us here. Why would they ever think to look for us in a church?
8. To be involved or mired in something. I refuse to get caught up in another one of your stupid schemes! The company has been caught up in scandal ever since an undercover journalist exposed its CEO's practice of bribing politicians. Ugh, I just can't get caught up in their drama anymore!
9. slang To stop using drugs. Yeah, she used to use drugs, but she's catching up now. My parents are the ones who finally got me to go to rehab and catch up. It's hard to catch up, yeah, but you can do it. These drugs are ruining your life.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
catch up
(on someone or something) to learn the news of someone or something. I need a little time to catch up on the news. We all need to catch up on what Tony has been doing. I need some time to catch up.
catch up
(on something) to bring one's efforts with something up-to-date; to do the work that one should have done. I need a quiet time so I can catch up on my work. He started school late and now has to catch up.
catch up
(to someone or something) and catch up (with someone or something) to move faster in order to reach someone or something who is moving in the same direction. The red car caught up with the blue one. Bill caught up with Ann, and they walked to the bank together.
catch up
(with someone or something) Go to catch up (to someone or something).
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
catch up
1. Suddenly snatch or lift up, as in The wind caught up the kite and sent it high above the trees. [First half of 1300s]
2. Also, catch up with. Come from behind, overtake. This usage can be either literal, as in You run so fast it's hard to catch up with you, or figurative, as in The auditors finally caught up with the embezzler. [Mid-1800s]
3. Become involved with, enthralled by, as in We all were caught up in the magical mood of that evening. [Mid-1600s]
4. Also, catch up on or with . Bring or get up to date, as in Let's get together soon and catch up on all the news, or Tonight I have to catch up with my correspondence. [First half of 1900s]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
catch up
v.1. To move fast enough to attain the same progress as someone or something: The runner caught up to the leader on the last lap of the race.
2. To become equal or on a par with someone or something: I finally caught up with my brother in height.
3. To bring some activity to completion or to a state of currentness: On the weekends, I catch up on reading the daily newspapers because I don't have time during the week.
4. To bring someone up to date; brief someone: Let me catch you up on all the gossip. I read the Sunday newspaper to catch up on the news.
5. To seize or lift something suddenly: The wind caught up the umbrella and carried it off. I wasn't holding onto the balloon very tightly, and the wind caught it up and sent it sailing away.
6. To involve someone in something, often unwillingly. Used chiefly in the passive: The senator was caught up in the scandal.
7. To captivate or enthrall someone. Used chiefly in the passive: Perhaps I shouldn't have proposed to you, but I was caught up in the mood of the evening.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.