catch a bus

Meaning

To catch a bus means to board or get on a bus in order to travel somewhere. It often implies arriving at the bus stop just in time to board before it departs.

Examples

• If I don't leave right now, I won't catch the bus.

  If I don't leave right now, I won't catch the bus.

• She catches a bus to work every morning at seven o'clock.

  She catches a bus to work every morning at seven o'clock.

• We ran all the way to the station to catch the bus.

  We ran all the way to the station to catch the bus.

• Where is the best place to catch a bus to the airport?

  Where is the best place to catch a bus to the airport?

• I missed the first one, so I had to catch a bus thirty minutes later.

  I missed the first one, so I had to catch a bus thirty minutes later.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ Hurry up or we will lose the bus!

  ✓ Hurry up or we will miss the bus!

  In English, you 'miss' a bus or train if you are late. 'Lose' is used for physical objects you cannot find, like keys or a phone.

• ✗ I caught the bus from the street.

  ✓ I caught the bus at the bus stop.

  You catch a bus at a specific designated location like a 'bus stop' or 'bus station', not just anywhere on the street.

Related Expressions

Practice

• I have to wake up early tomorrow to ___ to the city center.

  💡 Board a public bus.

  Show answer

  catch a bus

• If you walk fast, you can still ___ at the corner.

  💡 Get on the bus before it leaves.

  Show answer

  catch a bus