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Glite Dictionary
to catch the match

to catch the match

2.7
To watch a sports game, often on TV or online
  • phrasal verb
  • UK
translation icon : ver el partido
  • If we leave now, we can still catch the match before it ends.

Examples

  • I'm hoping to catch the match this weekend with some friends.

  • Did you catch the match last night on TV?

  • Did you catch the match last night?

  • I always catch the match on weekends.

  • Did you catch the match last night on TV?

  • I'm hoping to catch the match this weekend with some friends.

  • If we leave now, we can still catch the match before it ends.

Synonyms

to witness
vsto catch the match
653 3.0

To see or be present at an event as it happens

is used for watching sports events specifically rather than any event
to spectate
vsto catch the match
3 4.9

To watch an event, often a sports game, without taking part

focuses on watching sports events specifically rather than general events

Surface Forms

catch the match infinitive
catching the match present participle
catches the match third person singular
caught the match past
caught the match past participle

Morphology

catch + the + match

The meaning 'to see or watch a sports event' follows directly from combining 'catch' (in the sense of 'manage to see/watch', as in 'catch a movie') with 'match' (a contest). This is a common compositional pattern in English (catch + event), so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would likely infer the meaning.

Etymology

Catch the match may come from the simple idea of catch — like catching a bus or a ball — meaning to get to something in time, and match meaning a sports game. So if you 'catch the match' you manage to 'see' or 'watch' the game before it ends.