to catch a date

7.5

Manage to meet someone for a romantic time together

phrasal verb

Informal

: conseguir una cita

She was thrilled when she managed to catch a date for Valentine's Day.

Examples

After weeks of trying, he finally managed to catch a date with his crush.
Did you catch a date with Sarah?
It's often hard to catch a date during busy exam periods.
I hope to catch a date this weekend!
After weeks of trying, he finally managed to catch a date with his crush.
It's often hard to catch a date when you're busy with work.
She was excited to catch a date for Friday night.

Synonyms

to ask out

vsto catch a date

363 2.3

To invite someone to go on a date because you like them

completes the arrangement by securing an actual meeting

Antonyms

to reject

839 1.9

Refuse to accept someone or something

to miss an opportunity

14 2.8

Fail to use a chance to do something you want

How Successful

to catch a date

Informal

7.5

to ask out

363 2.3

Surface Forms

catch a date infinitive

catching a date present participle

catches a date third person singular

caught a date past

caught a date past participle

Morphology

catch + a + date

The meaning is directly derivable from combining 'catch' in the sense 'obtain/secure' with 'date' as 'a romantic meeting'; together they transparently convey 'get/arrange a date'. This verb + noun compositional pattern is common cross-linguistically and should be clear to a B1 learner who knows both words.

Etymology

Catch a date may come from the image of catch meaning to grab or get something, like catching a fish, and date meaning a meeting with someone you like. So, to catch a date means 'to successfully arrange a romantic meeting'.