catch up — to reach the same level or standard as someone who was ahead
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to reach the same level or standard as someone who was ahead
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈkætʃ ʌp/
Example Sentences
- After sleeping for 12 hours straight, I still need to catch up on more sleep.
- She's trying to catch up with her classmates after missing a month of school.
- Let's catch up - I haven't seen you since you got married to that weird guy with the pet iguana.
catch up
VERB[/ˈkætʃ ʌp/]
to reach the same level or standard as someone who was ahead
She runs hard to catch up with her friends at the park.
Patch up the bond, let hearts match up and catch up!
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Catch up is a phrasal verb combining 'catch' (from Old Norse kacka, meaning to seize or grab) and the particle 'up' (indicating upward direction or completion). The phrase developed from the literal sense of seizing something ahead by moving upward or forward, evolving to mean overtaking or reaching someone or something that is ahead.
Breakdown
catch (to seize, grab) + up (upward direction, completion) = to overtake or reach someone ahead; to narrow a gap by moving faster.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“After sleeping for 12 hours straight, I still need to catch up on more sleep.”
“She's trying to catch up with her classmates after missing a month of school.”
“Let's catch up - I haven't seen you since you got married to that weird guy with the pet iguana.”
“I need to catch up on three seasons of my favorite drama before the finale airs.”
📚Related Words
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