catch up
phrasal verb·4 senses·particle up
Meanings
Reach the same level or position as someone ahead
Why “up”? You stay at the needed level, pace, or state.
“Run and catch up with the others.”
“The cyclist caught up with the front group.”
“It took her years to catch up at school.”
Get up to date with news, work or events you have missed
“Leo caught up on his messages during lunch.”
“She caught up on her emails after vacation.”
“Let me catch up on what I missed.”
“Leo caught up on the project news before the office meeting began.”
(of bad behaviour or neglect)start to have unavoidable consequences
Why “up”? A person, thing, signal, idea, or truth becomes present, visible, active, or known.
“All those late nights are catching up with him.”
“Years of heavy work caught up with him, and his back began to hurt.”
“Her poor diet finally caught up with her.”
Spend time talking to a friend after a period apart
Why “up”? Separate people or pieces form one line, pair, group, or connection.
“Maya caught up with an old friend at the cafe while Leo rested from shopping.”
“Maya and Leo caught up while getting ready for their night out.”
“Leo caught up with a friend by phone after dinner.”
“Let's catch up properly soon.”
Common mistake
Let me catch up the others.
Let me catch up with the others.
To reach the same point as people, use catch up with.
Natural collocations
The word partners “catch up” most often appears with — learn the phrase, not just the verb.
Don't confuse with
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; Create an idea or plan, or find an answer
crop up
Same up pattern: appearance
Appear unexpectedly in a situation
dig up
Same up pattern: appearance
Remove something from the ground by digging; Discover information that was hidden or forgotten; Damage a surface by tearing into it; Mention or revive something embarrassing from the past
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