to catch a wave
10
4.1
- phrasal verb
:
surfear
- When Nadine surfaced, she threw back her hair and dived again in an attempt to catch a wave.
- surfboard to catch a wave
- paddling out to catch a wave
- catch a wave and ride
Examples
-
Deirdre looks out to the Pacific Ocean where the two boys in bright colors are mounting their surfboards to catch a wave.
Fiction book (1998) -
All right, so the kid caught a wave.
-
A wedding had just taken place nearby, and surfers were still trying to catch the last waves of the day.
Blog text (22) -
It takes most beginners a long time to just catch a wave.
-
From my deck, I could see surfers paddling out to catch waves just a few feet from where fire engines were marshaling near the Encinal Canyon fire station.
Fiction book (1994) -
As a beginner surfer, she was thrilled when she finally learned to catch a wave for the first time.
-
He stood up on his board and managed to catch a wave, feeling the rush of the ocean beneath him.
-
During the contest, the expert surfer was able to catch a wave that propelled him to victory.
Synonyms
89
2.1
To ride waves in the sea on a board
1
6.3
To ride a wave using only your body while lying on the water
1
4.8
To go surfing in the sea for fun
To ride waves in the sea while standing or lying on a board
Surface Forms
Morphology
The constituents 'catch' (to seize or become involved with) and 'wave' (a surge or trend) combine to give a metaphorical sense of seizing a surge; the compositional logic is visible but relies on a surfing/opportunity metaphor. A B1 learner who knows the words can probably infer a general sense of taking advantage of a trend, but the precise pragmatic nuance ('exploit a rising opportunity' vs. merely 'be affected by a surge') is metaphorical and may require prior exposure.
Etymology
Catch a wave comes from surfing: a rider paddles to meet a moving wave and then grabs it so the board can ride forward. That's why it means 'to ride on a moving wave'.