catch the travel bug

Meaning

This idiomatic expression means to develop a strong, sudden desire to travel and explore the world. It compares the urge to travel to catching a cold or a virus, suggesting that once you start traveling, you cannot easily stop. It is used in casual conversations to describe someone who has recently become obsessed with taking trips.

Examples

• Ever since her trip to Japan last summer, Sarah has really caught the travel bug.

  Ever since her trip to Japan last summer, Sarah has really caught the travel bug.

• I think I've caught the travel bug; I'm already planning my next vacation before this one even ends.

  I think I've caught the travel bug; I'm already planning my next vacation before this one even ends.

• Once you catch the travel bug, it's hard to settle down in one place for too long.

  Once you catch the travel bug, it's hard to settle down in one place for too long.

• He caught the travel bug during college when he spent a semester studying abroad in Spain.

  He caught the travel bug during college when he spent a semester studying abroad in Spain.

• My parents caught the travel bug late in life and now they spend half the year cruising around the world.

  My parents caught the travel bug late in life and now they spend half the year cruising around the world.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I got caught by the travel bug last year.

  ✓ I caught the travel bug last year.

  The idiom is active ('to catch the travel bug'), not passive. You catch the bug; the bug does not catch you.

• ✗ She has a travel bug.

  ✓ She has the travel bug.

  The idiom almost always uses the definite article 'the' rather than the indefinite article 'a'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• After visiting Paris, I completely ___ and now I want to see the rest of Europe.

  💡 past tense of catch + the travel bug

  Show answer

  caught the travel bug

• Be careful! Once you start backpacking, you might ___.

  💡 become addicted to traveling

  Show answer

  catch the travel bug