A drawback or difficulty that is not readily evident:
— It sounds good but what's the catch?.

synonym: gimmick.

Roget 469: qualification, limitation, modification, coloring.    allowance, grains of allowance, consideration, extenuating circumstances; mitigation.    condition, proviso, prerequisite, contingency, stipulation, provision, specification, sine qua non [Lat.]; catch, string, strings attached; exemption; exception, escape clause, salvo, saving clause; discount etc. 813; restriction; fine print.    ... show more

Roget 545: deception; falseness etc. 544; untruth etc. 546; imposition, imposture; fraud, deceit, guile; fraudulence, fraudulency^†; covin^†; knavery etc. (cunning) 702; misrepresentation etc. (falsehood) 544; bluff; straw-bail, straw bid [U.S.]; spoof [Slang].    delusion, gullery^†; juggling, jugglery^†; slight of hand, legerdemain; prestigiation^†, prestidigitation; magic etc. 992; conjuring, conjuration; hocus-pocus, escamoterie^†, jockeyship^†; trickery, coggery^†, chicanery; supercherie^†, cozenage^†, circumvention, ingannation^†, collusion; treachery etc. 940; practical joke.    trick, cheat, wile, blind, feint, plant, bubble, fetch, catch, chicane, juggle, reach, hocus, bite; card sharping, stacked deck, loaded dice, quick shuffle, double dealing, dealing seconds, dealing from the bottom of the deck; artful dodge, swindle; tricks upon travelers; stratagem etc. (artifice) 702; confidence trick, fake, hoax; theft etc. 791; ballot-box stuffing [U.S.], barney [Slang]; brace game [Slang], bunko game, drop game [Slang], gum game [U.S.], panel game [U.S.], shell game, thimblerig, skin game [U.S.].    snare, trap, pitfall, decoy, gin; springe^†, springle^†; noose, hoot; bait, decoy-duck, tub to the whale, baited trap, guet-a-pens; cobweb, net, meshes, toils, mouse trap, birdlime; dionaea^†, Venus's flytrap^†; ambush etc. 530; trapdoor, sliding panel, false bottom; spring-net, spring net, spring gun, mask, masked battery; mine; flytrap^†; green goods [U.S.]; panel house.    Cornish hug; wolf in sheep's clothing etc. (deceiver) 548; disguise, disguisement^†; false colors, masquerade, mummery, borrowed plumes; pattes de velours [Fr.].    mockery etc. (imitation) 19; copy etc. 21; counterfeit, sham, make-believe, forgery, fraud; lie etc. 546; a delusion a mockery and a snare" [Denman], hollow mockery.    whited sepulcher, painted sepulcher; tinsel; paste, junk jewelry, costume jewelry, false jewelry, synthetic jewels; scagliola^†, ormolu, German silver, albata^†, paktong^†, white metal, Britannia metal, paint; veneer; jerry building; man of straw.    illusion etc. (error) 495; ignis fatuus [Lat.] etc. 423; mirage etc. 443.    ... show more

Roget 415: music; concert; strain, tune, air; melody etc. 413; aria, arietta^†; piece of music [Fr.], work, number, opus; sonata; rondo, rondeau [Fr.]; pastorale, cavatina^†, roulade^†, fantasia, concerto, overture, symphony, variations, cadenza; cadence; fugue, canon, quodlibet, serenade, notturno [It], dithyramb; opera, operetta; oratorio; composition, movement; stave; passamezzo [It], toccata, Vorspiel [G.].    instrumental music; full score; minstrelsy, tweedledum and tweedledee, band, orchestra; concerted piece [Fr.], potpourri, capriccio.    vocal music, vocalism^†; chaunt, chant; psalm, psalmody; hymn; song etc. (poem) 597; canticle, canzonet^†, cantata, bravura, lay, ballad, ditty, carol, pastoral, recitative, recitativo^†, solfeggio^†.    Lydian measures; slow music, slow movement; adagio etc. adv.; minuet; siren strains, soft music, lullaby; dump; dirge etc. (lament) 839; pibroch^†; martial music, march; dance music; waltz etc. (dance) 840.    solo, duet, duo, trio; quartet, quartett^†; septett^†; part song, descant, glee, madrigal, catch, round, chorus, chorale; antiphon^†, antiphony; accompaniment, second, bass; score; bourdon^†, drone, morceau^†, terzetto^†.    composer etc. 413; musician etc. 416.    ... show more

Roget 45: vinculum, link; connective, connection; junction etc. 43; bond of union, copula, hyphen, intermedium^†; bracket; bridge, stepping-stone, isthmus.    bond, tendon, tendril; fiber; cord, cordage; riband, ribbon, rope, guy, cable, line, halser^†, hawser, painter, moorings, wire, chain; string etc. (filament) 205.    fastener, fastening, tie; ligament, ligature; strap; tackle, rigging; standing rigging, running rigging; traces, harness; yoke; band ribband, bandage; brace, roller, fillet; inkle^†; with, withe, withy; thong, braid; girder, tiebeam; girth, girdle, cestus^†, garter, halter, noose, lasso, surcingle, knot, running knot; cabestro [U.S.], cinch [U.S.], lariat, legadero^†, oxreim^†; suspenders.    pin, corking pin, nail, brad, tack, skewer, staple, corrugated fastener; clamp, U-clamp, C-clamp; cramp, cramp iron; ratchet, detent, larigo^†, pawl; terret^†, treenail, screw, button, buckle; clasp, hasp, hinge, hank, catch, latch, bolt, latchet^†, tag; tooth; hook, hook and eye; lock, holdfast^†, padlock, rivet; anchor, grappling iron, trennel^†, stake, post.    cement, glue, gum, paste, size, wafer, solder, lute, putty, birdlime, mortar, stucco, plaster, grout; viscum^†.    shackle, rein etc. (means of restraint) 752; prop etc. (support) 215.    ... show more

The quantity that was caught:
— The catch was only 10 fish.

synonym: haul.

Roget 789: taking etc. v.; reception etc. (taking in) 296; deglutition etc. (taking food) 298; appropriation, prehension, prensation^†; capture, caption; apprehension, deprehension^†; abreption^†, seizure, expropriation, abduction, ablation; subtraction, withdrawal etc. 38; abstraction, ademption^†; adrolepsy^†.    dispossession; deprivation, deprivement^†; bereavement; divestment; disherison^†; distraint, distress; sequestration, confiscation; eviction etc. 297.    rapacity, rapaciousness, extortion, vampirism; theft etc. 791.    resumption; reprise, reprisal; recovery etc. 775.    clutch, swoop, wrench; grip etc. (retention) 781; haul, take, catch; scramble.    taker, captor.    [Descent of one of the earth's crustal plates under another plate] subduction [Geol.].    ... show more

A person regarded as a good matrimonial prospect.

synonym: match.

Dutch: verovering

Anything that is caught (especially if it is worth catching).

Dutch: opvangen, struikelblok, valstrik, vangst

A break or check in the voice (usually a sign of strong emotion).

A restraint that checks the motion of something.

synonym: stop.

Polish: odbój

A fastener that fastens or locks a door or window.

A cooperative game in which a ball is passed back and forth.

The act of catching an object with the hands:
— Mays made the catch with his back to the plate.

synonyms: grab, snap, snatch.

Dutch: graai, greep

The act of apprehending (especially apprehending a criminal).

synonyms: apprehension, arrest, collar, pinch, taking into custody.

Dutch: stilstand, grijpen, vastgrijpen, arrest, aanhouding, arrestatie
Polish: aresztowanie, zatrzymanie

Discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state.

Roget 19: imitate, copy, mirror, reflect, reproduce, repeat; do like, echo, reecho, catch; transcribe; match, parallel.    mock, take off, mimic, ape, simulate, impersonate, personate; act etc. (drama) 599; represent etc. 554; counterfeit, parody, travesty, caricature, lampoon, burlesque.    follow in the steps of, tread in the steps, follow in the footsteps of, follow in the wake of; take pattern by; follow suit, follow the example of; walk in the shoes of, take a leaf out of another's book, strike in with, follow suit; take after, model after; emulate.    ... show more

Dutch: attraperen, betrappen, snappen, snorren

Perceive with the senses quickly, suddenly, or momentarily:
— Ears open to catch every sound.
— Catch a glimpse.

synonym: pick up.

Roget 480a: discover, find, determine, evolve, learn etc. 539; fix upon; pick up; find out, trace out, make out, hunt out, fish out, worm out, ferret out, root out; fathom; bring out, draw out; educe, elicit, bring to light; dig out, grub up, fish up; unearth, disinter.    solve, resolve, elucidate; unriddle, unravel, unlock, crack, crack open; pick up, open the lock; find a clue, find clew a to, find the key to the riddle; interpret etc. 522; disclose etc. 529.    trace, get at; hit it, have it; lay one's finger, lay one's hands upon; spot; get at the truth, arrive at the truth etc. 494; put the saddle on the right horse, hit the right nail on the head.    be near the truth, be warm, get warmer, burn; smoke, scent, sniff, catch a whiff of, smell a rat.    open the eyes to; see through, see daylight, see in its true colors, see the cloven foot; detect; catch, catch tripping.    pitch upon, fall upon, light upon, hit upon, stumble upon, pop upon; come across, come onto; meet with, meet up with, fall in with.    recognize, realize; verify, make certain of, identify.    ... show more

Reach with a blow or hit in a particular spot.

synonym: get.

Take hold of so as to seize or restrain or stop the motion of:
— Catch the ball!.

synonyms: grab, take hold of.

Roget 789: take, catch, hook, nab, bag, sack, pocket, put into one's pocket; receive; accept.    reap, crop, cull, pluck; gather etc. (get) 775; draw.    appropriate, expropriate, impropriate^†; assume, possess oneself of; take possession of; commandeer; lay one's hands on, clap one's hands on; help oneself to; make free with, dip one's hands into, lay under contribution; intercept; scramble for; deprive of.    take away, carry away, bear away, take off, carry off, bear off; adeem^†; abstract; hurry off with, run away with; abduct; steal etc. 791; ravish; seize; pounce upon, spring upon; swoop to, swoop down upon; take by storm, take by assault; snatch, reave^†.    snap up, nip up, whip up, catch up; kidnap, crimp, capture, lay violent hands on.    get hold of, lay hold of, take hold of, catch hold of, lay fast hold of, take firm hold of; lay by the heels, take prisoner; fasten upon, grip, grapple, embrace, gripe, clasp, grab, clutch, collar, throttle, take by the throat, claw, clinch, clench, make sure of.    catch at, jump at, make a grab at, snap at, snatch at; reach, make a long arm, stretch forth one's hand.    take from, take away from; disseize^†; deduct etc. 38; retrench etc. (curtail) 201; dispossess, ease one of, snatch from one's grasp; tear from, tear away from, wrench from, wrest from, wring from; extort; deprive of, bereave; disinherit, cut off with a shilling.    oust etc. (eject) 297; divest; levy, distrain, confiscate; sequester, sequestrate; accroach^†; usurp; despoil, strip, fleece, shear, displume^†, impoverish, eat out of house and home; drain, drain to the dregs; gut, dry, exhaust, swallow up; absorb etc. (suck in) 296; draw off; suck the blood of, suck like a leech.    retake, resume; recover etc. 775.    ... show more

Dutch: grijpen, vangen

Succeed in catching or seizing, especially after a chase:
— Did you catch the thief?.

synonyms: capture, get.

To hook or entangle.

synonym: hitch.

Attract and fix:
— Catch the attention of the waiter.

synonyms: arrest, get.

Capture as if by hunting, snaring, or trapping.

synonym: capture.

Reach in time.

Get or regain something necessary, usually quickly or briefly.

Catch up with and possibly overtake.

synonyms: catch up with, overtake.

Dutch: inhalen

Be struck or affected by.

Check oneself during an action.

Hear, usually without the knowledge of the speakers.

synonyms: overhear, take in.

Roget 785: receive; take etc. 789; acquire etc. 775; admit.    take in, catch, touch; pocket; put into one's pocket, put into one's purse; accept; take off one's hands.    be received; come in, come to hand; pass into one's hand, fall into one's hand; go into one's pocket; fall to one's lot, fall to one's share; come to one, fall to one; accrue; have given to one etc. 784.    ... show more

Roget 545: deceive, take in; defraud, cheat, jockey, do, cozen, diddle, nab, chouse, play one false, bilk, cully^†, jilt, bite, pluck, swindle, victimize; abuse; mystify; blind one's eyes; blindfold, hoodwink; throw dust into the eyes; dupe, gull, hoax, fool, befool^†, bamboozle, flimflam, hornswoggle; trick.    impose upon, practice upon, play upon, put upon, palm off on, palm upon, foist upon; snatch a verdict; bluff off, bluff; bunko, four flush [Slang], gum [U.S.], spoof [Slang], stuff (a ballot box) [U.S.].    circumvent, overreach; outreach, out wit, out maneuver; steal a march upon, give the go-by, to leave in the lurch decoy, waylay, lure, beguile, delude, inveigle; entrap, intrap^†, ensnare; nick, springe^†; set a trap, lay a trap, lay a snare for; bait the hook, forelay^†, spread the toils, lime; trapan^†, trepan; kidnap; let in, hook in; nousle^†, nousel^†; blind a trail; enmesh, immesh^†; shanghai; catch, catch in a trap; sniggle, entangle, illaqueate^†, hocus, escamoter^†, practice on one's credulity; hum, humbug; gammon, stuff up [Slang], sell; play a trick upon one, play a practical joke upon one, put something over on one, put one over on; balk, trip up, throw a tub to a whale; fool to the top of one's bent, send on a fool's errand; make game, make a fool of, make an April fool of^†, make an ass of; trifle with, cajole, flatter; come over etc. (influence) 615; gild the pill, make things pleasant, divert, put a good face upon; dissemble etc. 544.    cog, cog the dice, load the dice, stack the deck; live by one's wits, play at hide and seek; obtain money under false pretenses etc. (steal) 791; conjure, juggle, practice chicanery; deacon [U.S.].    play off, palm off, foist off, fob-off.    lie etc. 544; misinform etc. 538; mislead etc. (error) 495; betray etc. 940; be deceived etc. 547.    ... show more

Roget 418: hear, overhear; hark, harken; list, listen, pay attention, take heed; give an ear, lend an ear, bend an ear; catch, catch a sound, prick up one's ears; give ear, give a hearing, give audience to.    hang upon the lips of, be all ears, listen with both ears.    become audible; meet the ear, fall upon the ear, catch the ear, reach the ear; be heard; ring in the ear etc. (resound) 408.    ... show more

Roget 518: be intelligible etc. adj.; speak for itself, speak volumes; tell its own tale, lie on the surface.    render intelligible etc. adj.; popularize, simplify, clear up; elucidate etc. (explain) 522.    understand, comprehend, take, take in; catch, grasp, follow, collect, master, make out; see with half an eye, see daylight, see one's way; enter into the ideas of; come to an understanding.    ... show more

Dutch: afluisteren, luistervinken

See or watch:
— Catch a show on Broadway.

synonyms: see, take in, view, watch.

Cause to become accidentally or suddenly caught, ensnared, or entangled.

Detect a blunder or misstep.

synonym: trip up.

Grasp with the mind or develop an understanding of:
— Did you catch that allusion?.
— Don't catch your meaning.

synonym: get.

Contract.

Start burning.

Perceive by hearing:
— I didn't catch your name.

synonym: get.

Dutch: opvangen

Suffer from the receipt of:
— She will catch hell for this behavior!.

synonym: get.

Attract; cause to be enamored.

synonyms: becharm, beguile, bewitch, captivate, capture, charm, enamor, enamour, enchant, entrance, fascinate, trance ... show more.

Dutch: boeien, bekoren, vangen

Apprehend and reproduce accurately.

synonym: get.

Take in and retain.

Spread or be communicated.

Be the catcher.

Become aware of.

Delay or hold up; prevent from proceeding on schedule or as planned.