catch
2
7.2
- noun
- /kæʧ/
- "It's going to be all right," he said with a catch in his voice.
- catch in the throat
- catch in the voice
- feel a catch
Examples
-
"Oh, Wade," she said, her chin quivering, a catch in her voice.
Fiction book (1992) -
"Is this really happening?" she whispered to the picture, feeling the catch in her throat.
Fiction book (1999) -
Seeing him naked and whole for the first time, she felt a catch in her throat, a pressure in her chest.
Fiction book (1994) -
The very thought of that glorious moment made Keevan's breath catch in his throat.
Fiction book (2002) -
Drew laughed, looking so much like their father just then, Mandy felt her throat catch.
Fiction book (1998) -
" Indecency?" Dickens said it with a slight catch in his voice.
Fiction book (1990) -
With a sudden catch at my heart, I find myself brimming with love and vague premonition.
Academic text (1990) -
"We can't give up," she said, and there was just the faintest catch of desperation in her voice.
Fiction book (1991) -
Lirrel could almost hear the catch in Eneas's throat at the sight, joined by Alwir and Wyer.
Fiction book (1991) -
"It's going to be all right," he said with a catch in his voice.
Synonyms
1
6.2
An abrupt change in voice pitch during strong emotion
1
6.3
A short pause of uncertainty, often in speech or action
A quick sound made by briefly closing and opening the vocal cords before a vowel
Idioms
- Informal
5
8.2
To become very sick from being outside in the cold, often said as a warning
- Informal
2
9.7
To try to get people to agree by being harsh or unpleasant
- Informal
1
6.8
Notice someone being careless when they should be paying attention
- Offensive
1
9.9
To find a dead person, often during police work or as slang for killing someone
- Informal
To not pay attention and miss what is happening around you, for example because you are daydreaming
Give something small to get something much bigger later
Compounds
- Specialized
1
7.0
A player signals and catches a punt without running and cannot be tackled
- Specialized
1
8.0
Animals and other sea life that are caught by accident while people fish for other species
- Jargon
1
8.6
A baseball play where an outfielder runs and grabs a ball very close to the ground
1
4.1
A 2002 American film by Steven Spielberg starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks
- Specialized
1
6.3
A small fenced area that holds animals like sheep or cattle for a short time
- Specialized
A quick sound made by briefly closing and opening the vocal cords before a vowel
How Noticeable
Surface Forms
Etymology
Catch in the voice comes from 'catching' your breath, so a small break or 'catch' happens when your breathing or voice is suddenly held for a moment.