catch-up

[ kach-uhp ]

noun

1. an effort to reach or pass a norm, especially after a period of delay:

   After the slowdown there was a catch-up in production.

2. an effort to catch up with or surpass a competitor, as in a sports contest.
3. an instance of catching up.

adjective

1. intended to keep up with or surpass a norm or competitor:

   a catch-up pay raise to offset inflation.

catch up

verb

1. tr to seize and take up (something) quickly
2. whenintr, often foll by with to reach or pass (someone or something), after following

   he soon caught him up

3. intr; usually foll by on or with to make up for lost ground or deal with a backlog (in some specified task or activity)
4. tr; often passive to absorb or involve

   she was caught up in her reading

5. tr to raise by or as if by fastening

   the hem of her dress was caught up with ribbons

Word History and Origins

Origin of catch-up¹

1835–45, Americanism; noun, adj. use of verb phrase catch up

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. play catch-up, Informal. to make a special effort to overcome a late start, a liability, or the advantage a competitor has:

   After Russia launched the first space satellite, other countries had to play catch-up.

Example Sentences

Midway through the tour in May, Rife revealed that the “extreme exhaustion” from performing and traveling had caught up to him and led him to cancel a pair of Indiana shows.

From Los Angeles Times

But by Tuesday, four days ahead of its crosstown matchup with UCLA, it had finally caught up with Lincoln Riley, whose third rivalry week at USC now promises to be an especially viral one.

From Los Angeles Times

Prices, however, should climb more slowly, or remain relatively flat, giving incomes a chance to catch up.

From Los Angeles Times

I enjoyed the challenge of catching up, but once that happened, school was boring again.

From Los Angeles Times

The 52-year-old Welshman, who found fame in insurance adverts, had been caught up in controversy with dance partner Katya Jones earlier in the series after what they called a "running joke" backfired.

From BBC

Related Words

• get back
• reclaim
• recoup
• regain
• repair
• rescue
• restore
• resume
• retrieve
• salvage