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

Other interventions offered included free breakfast clubs, access to key workers and catch-up sessions.

From BBC

The video above is a good catch-up for those who might not be fully versed in present-day AOC.

From Slate

The UK has around 17m subscribers and it will be interesting to see how many sign in at around 03:00 GMT when Taylor and Serrano make their ring walks and if most of those watching on catch-up will just skip to the main event.

From BBC

Scotland, who were forced to play catch-up for most of the day, garnered all of their points from the boot of Finn Russell.

From BBC

They’re admittedly playing “a little bit of catch-up going on right now,” as general manager Brandon Gomes put it — but are happy to be after spending the last month winning the World Series.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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