play catch up
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
Idioms 4.
intended to keep up with or surpass a norm or competitor: a catch-up pay raise to offset inflation.
5.
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.
Origin:
1835–45, Americanism; noun, adj. use of verb phrase catch up
1835–45, Americanism; noun, adj. use of verb phrase catch up
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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00:10
Play catch up
is always a great word to know.
So is doohickey. Does it mean:
| a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison. |
| a gadget; dingus; thingumbob. |
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