catch up

phrasal verb·4 senses·particle up

Meanings

1

Reach the same level or position as someone ahead

Same Level

Why “up”? You stay at the needed level, pace, or state.

“Run and catch up with the others.”
Run and reach the same point as the others.
“The cyclist caught up with the front group.”
The cyclist reached the same position as the front group.
“It took her years to catch up at school.”
It took her years to reach the same level as her classmates.
2

Get up to date with news, work or events you have missed

Same Level
“I need to catch up on the news.”
I need to bring myself up to date with the news.
“She caught up on her emails after vacation.”
She brought herself up to date with her emails after vacation.
“Let me catch up on what I missed.”
Let me find out what was said while I was away.
3

(of bad behaviour or neglect) start to have unavoidable consequences

Appearanceuncommon

Why “up”? Rising into view. What comes up becomes present and visible.

“All those late nights are catching up with him.”
All those late nights are starting to take a toll on him.
“Years of heavy work caught up with his back.”
Years of heavy work finally started to harm his back.
“Years of poor diet caught up with her heart.”
Years of poor diet finally damaged her heart.
4

Spend time talking to a friend after a period apart

Assembly

Why “up”? Separate people or pieces come up into one line, pair, group, or connection.

“We caught up over coffee last week.”
We spent some time talking and updating each other over coffee last week.
“They caught up after years apart.”
They spent time talking and sharing news after years apart.
“Let's catch up properly soon.”
Let's get together soon and share what we've been up to.

Don't confuse with

catch upcatch on

Catch up means reach the same level or position as someone ahead. Catch on means become popular or fashionable.

Test yourself

“Run and catch up with the others.” What does it mean?

Nearby in the meaning map

Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.

catch on

A contrast learners often mix up

Become popular or fashionable; Begin to understand something

blow up

Same up pattern: appearance

Explode or be destroyed by an explosion; Inflate something by filling it with air; Suddenly become very angry; Enlarge a photograph or image; (of a storm or argument) develop quickly into something serious

bring up

Same up pattern: appearance

Mention or raise a topic

call up

Same up pattern: appearance

Telephone someone; Order someone to join military service; Display information on a screen or computer; Bring a memory or feeling vividly to mind; Select a player for a higher-level team

clear up

Same up pattern: appearance

Tidy a place by putting things away; (of weather) become bright and dry after rain or cloud; Resolve a misunderstanding or doubt by explaining it; (of an illness, rash or symptom) disappear or get better; Solve a mystery or unsolved problem

come up

Same up pattern: appearance

Arise as a topic or event

crop up

Same up pattern: appearance

Appear unexpectedly in a situation

cut up

Same up pattern: appearance

Cut something into smaller pieces; Make someone deeply upset or distressed; Behave in a wild or noisy way to attract attention; Overtake another driver suddenly and dangerously

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