catch the sun

Meaning

This expression means to get slightly sunburned or tanned after spending time outdoors. It is a lighthearted, casual way to comment on someone's pink or golden skin after a day in the sun, often used as a gentle warning to apply sunscreen.

Examples

• Your shoulders look a bit red; I think you caught the sun at the beach today.

  Your shoulders look a bit red; I think you caught the sun at the beach today.

• I forgot to wear a hat and caught the sun on my nose.

  I forgot to wear a hat and caught the sun on my nose.

• Make sure you put on some lotion, or you'll catch the sun during our hike.

  Make sure you put on some lotion, or you'll catch the sun during our hike.

• She came back from her weekend trip looking like she'd caught the sun.

  She came back from her weekend trip looking like she'd caught the sun.

• I didn't realize how hot it was until I got home and saw I'd caught the sun.

  I didn't realize how hot it was until I got home and saw I'd caught the sun.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I caught the sun yesterday and now I have a third-degree burn.

  ✓ I got severely sunburned yesterday.

  'Catch the sun' is used for mild, slight sunburns or tanning, not severe skin damage.

• ✗ I want to catch sun at the beach.

  ✓ I want to get some sun at the beach.

  'Catch the sun' is usually a result or state you notice afterward, not an active action like sunbathing.

Related Expressions

Practice

• You've definitely ___ on your face; you should put some after-sun lotion on.

  💡 Gotten a bit red or tanned from the sun

  Show answer

  caught the sun

• Without any sunscreen, you're going to ___ out here in the desert.

  💡 Get slightly sunburned

  Show answer

  catch the sun