C
Idioms beginning with "C"
Part of speech, explanation, example sentences, pronunciation
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Contents of C:
[catch one's eye] {v. phr.}
To attract your attention.
I caught his eye as he moved through the crowd, and waved at him to come over.
The dress in the window caught her eye when she passed the store.
[catch red-handed] {v. phr.}
To apprehend a person during the act of committing an illicit or criminal act.
Al was caught red-handed at the local store when he was trying to walk out with a new camera he had not paid for.
[catch sight of] {v. phr.}
To see suddenly or unexpectedly.
Allan caught sight of a kingbird in a maple tree.
Contrast: [LOSE SIGHT OF].
[catch some rays] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal}
To get tanned while sunbathing.
Tomorrow I'll go to the beach and try to catch some rays.
[catch some Z's] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal}
To take a nap, to go to sleep. (Because of the "z" sound resembling snoring.)
I want to hit the sack and catch some Z's.
[catch up] {v.}
1. To take or pick up suddenly; grab (something).
She caught up the book from the table and ran out of the room.
2. To capture or trap (someone) in a situation; concern or interest very much. — Usually used in the passive with […]
[catch with one's pants down] {v. phr.}, {slang}
To surprise someone in an embarrassing position or guilty act.
They thought they could succeed in the robbery, but they got caught with their pants down.
* /When the weather turned hot in May, the […]
[catch-22] {n.}, {informal}
From Joseph Heller's novel "Catch-22", set in World War II.
1. A regulation or situation that is self-contradictory or that conflicts with another regulation. In Heller's book it referred to the regulation that flight crews […]
[catch-as-catch-can] (1) {adv. phr.}
In a free manner; in any way possible; in the best way you can.
On moving day everything is packed and we eat meals catch-as-catch-can.
[catch-as-catch-can] {adj. phr.}
Using any means or method; unplanned; free.
Rip van Winkle seems to have led a catch-as-catch-can life.
Politics is rather a catch-as-catch-can business.
Compare: [HIT-OR-MISS].