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catch

catch

115 5.5
A hidden problem in an offer that seems good
  • noun
  • /kæʧ/
  • Informal
translation icon : truco
  • When the offer seemed too good to be true, I started to wonder what the catch was.
  • Catch-22
  • a catch-22 situation

And there's one last catch, the price.

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Examples

Synonyms

pitfall
vscatch
35 4.8

An unexpected problem that is not obvious at first

points to a hidden drawback within an otherwise attractive offer or situation

Antonyms

2.8

Something that helps a person do better than others

Idioms

Pause to breathe normally after hard exercise or a shock

Difficult to find, stop, or understand

5 8.2

To become very sick from being outside in the cold, often said as a warning

To notice a small smell of something for a short time

2 7.9

To sleep to get some rest

1 9.9

Get in trouble with the law by being charged with a crime

1 8.9

Using whatever is available and acting without a plan

to catch a body
  • Offensive
1 9.9

To find a dead person, often during police work or as slang for killing someone

To not pay attention and miss what is happening around you, for example because you are daydreaming

To try to get people to agree by being harsh or unpleasant

7.0

Challenge someone to try to reach or pass you

to catch no ball
  • Informal
9.9

To not understand anything in a talk or explanation

9.9

To get a sickness in your chest that makes you cough a lot

to catch a cootie
  • Baby Talk
9.5

To pretend to get a small, not real illness from another person

9.9

To unexpectedly meet a very strong opponent

to catch a wave
  • Informal
6.9

To use a rising trend or new interest to grow quickly

To find someone not ready or not paying attention

8.9

To sleep for a short time

Notice someone being careless when they should be paying attention

Give something small to get something much bigger later

Compounds

Catch-22
  • Informal
18 9.6

A situation where you cannot win because rules block every choice

catch-up
  • Informal
9 3.3

An informal meeting to share news and updates

6 3.6

A time of work to reach the same level after falling behind

The freshest fish or seafood available that day, often on a restaurant menu

2 3.8

Helps someone reach the needed level after falling behind

1 3.5

A short famous saying people often repeat about a person or show

1 4.1

A part on a gun or other weapon that stops it firing by mistake

fair catch
  • Specialized
1 7.0

A player signals and catches a punt without running and cannot be tackled

1 2.9

Seafood caught recently that is not yet cooked or preserved

by-catch
  • Specialized
1 8.0

Animals and other sea life that are caught by accident while people fish for other species

A 2002 American film by Steven Spielberg starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks

catch crop
  • Specialized
6.7

A fast-growing crop planted between main crops to use land and time well

catch pen
  • Specialized
6.3

A small fenced area that holds animals like sheep or cattle for a short time

glottal catch
  • Specialized
9.9

A quick sound made by briefly closing and opening the vocal cords before a vowel

8.6

A baseball play where an outfielder runs and grabs a ball very close to the ground

How Serious

crisis
3.1
catch
  • Informal
115 5.5
problem
1.2
obstacle
343 3.4
drawback
50 3.4
snag
25 4.6

Surface Forms

catch singular
catches plural

Etymology

Catch can mean a hidden problem because it is like a small trap that seizes you later, so a 'catch' in a deal is the thing that makes it less free or safe.