8 VERB If you catch yourself doing something, especially something surprising, you suddenly become aware that you are doing it. □ [V pron-refl v-ing] I caught myself feeling almost sorry for poor Mr Laurence.
9 VERB If you catch something or catch a glimpse of it, you notice it or manage to see it briefly. □ [V n] As she turned back, she caught the puzzled look on her mother's face. □ [V n] He caught a glimpse of the man's face in a shop window.
10 VERB If you catch something that someone has said, you manage to hear it. □ [V n] I do not believe I caught your name. □ [V wh] The men out in the corridor were trying to catch what they said.
11 VERB If you catch a TV or radio programme or an event, you manage to see or listen to it. □ [V n] Bill turns on the radio to catch the local news.
12 VERB If you catch someone, you manage to contact or meet them to talk to them, especially when they are just about to go somewhere else. □ [V n] I dialled Elizabeth's number thinking I might catch her before she left for work. □ [V n] Hello, Dolph. Glad I caught you.
13 VERB If something or someone catches you by surprise or at a bad time, you were not expecting them or do not feel able to deal with them. □ [V n prep] She looked as if the photographer had caught her by surprise. □ [V n prep] I'm sorry but I just cannot say anything. You've caught me at a bad time. □ [V n adj] The sheer number of spectators has caught everyone unprepared.
14 VERB If something catches your attention or your eye, you notice it or become interested in it. □ [V n] My shoes caught his attention. □ [V n] A quick movement across the aisle caught his eye.
15 V-PASSIVE If you are caught in a storm or other unpleasant situation, it happens when you cannot avoid its effects. □ [be/get V -ed + in] When he was fishing off the island he was caught in a storm and almost drowned. □ [be V -ed + between] Visitors to the area were caught between police and the rioters.
16 V-PASSIVE If you are caught between two alternatives or two people, you do not know which one to choose or follow. □ [be V -ed + between ] The Jordanian leader is caught between both sides in the dispute. □ [be V -ed + between ] She was caught between envy and admiration.
17 VERB If you catch a cold or a disease, you become ill with it. □ [V n] The more stress you are under, the more likely you are to catch a cold.
18 VERB To catch liquids or small pieces that fall from somewhere means to collect them in a container. □ [V n] …a specially designed breadboard with a tray to catch the crumbs.
19 VERB If something catches the light or if the light catches it, it reflects the light and looks bright or shiny. □ [V n] They saw the ship's guns, catching the light of the moon. □ [V n + in ] Often a fox goes across the road in front of me and I just catch it in the headlights.
20 N‑COUNT A catch on a window, door, or container is a device that fastens it. □ [+ of ] She fiddled with the catch of her bag.
21 N‑COUNT [usu sing] A catch is a hidden problem or difficulty in a plan or an offer that seems surprisingly good. □ The catch is that you work for your supper, and the food and accommodation can be very basic.
22 N‑COUNT When people have been fishing, their catch is the total number of fish that they have caught. □ The catch included one fish over 18 pounds.
23 N‑UNCOUNT Catch is a game in which children throw a ball to each other.
24 N‑UNCOUNT Catch is a game in which one child chases other children and tries to touch or catch one of them.
25 → see also catching
26 PHRASE You can say things such as ' You wouldn't catch me doing that ' to emphasize that you would never do a particular thing. [INFORMAL , EMPHASIS ] □ You wouldn't catch me in there, I can tell you.
27 to catch your breath → see breath
28 to catch fire → see fire ➊
29 to catch hold of something → see hold ➊
30 to catch sight of something → see sight
▸ catch on
1 PHRASAL VERB If you catch on to something, you understand it, or realize that it is happening. □ [V P + to ] He got what he could out of me before I caught on to the kind of person he'd turned into. □ [V P ] Wait a minute! I'm beginning to catch on.
2 PHRASAL VERB If something catches on , it becomes popular. □ [V P ] The idea has been around for ages without catching on.
▸ catch out PHRASAL VERB To catch someone out means to cause them to make a mistake that reveals that they are lying about something, do not know something, or cannot do something. [mainly BRIT ] □ [V n P prep] Detectives followed him for months hoping to catch him out in some deception. □ [be V -ed P + by] The government has been caught out by the speed of events. [Also V n P , V P n]
▸ catch up
1 PHRASAL VERB If you catch up with someone who is in front of you, you reach them by walking faster than they are walking. □ [V P ] I stopped and waited for her to catch up. □ [V P + with ] We caught up with the others.
2 PHRASAL VERB To catch up with someone means to reach the same standard, stage, or level that they have reached. □ [V P + with ] Most late developers will catch up with their friends. □ [V P ] John began the season better than me but I have fought to catch up. □ [V P + on/in ] During the evenings, the school is used by kids who want to catch up on English and mathematics.