catch up on

Meaning

To do something that you have not had time to do recently, such as watching missed episodes of a TV show or reading. It implies you are behind and want to get back to the current point.

Examples

• I need to catch up on the latest season of that sci-fi show.

  I need to catch up on the latest season of that sci-fi show.

• This weekend, I'm just going to stay home and catch up on my reading.

  This weekend, I'm just going to stay home and catch up on my reading.

• She used her flight to catch up on some movies she missed in theaters.

  She used her flight to catch up on some movies she missed in theaters.

• I've been so busy with work that I need to catch up on my favorite podcasts.

  I've been so busy with work that I need to catch up on my favorite podcasts.

• Let's spend Saturday afternoon catching up on the series everyone is talking about.

  Let's spend Saturday afternoon catching up on the series everyone is talking about.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I need to catch up my favorite TV show.

  ✓ I need to catch up on my favorite TV show.

  Without the preposition 'on', the phrasal verb is incomplete. 'Catch up on' is required when referring to activities, tasks, or media.

• ✗ I will catch up with the latest episodes tonight.

  ✓ I will catch up on the latest episodes tonight.

  'Catch up with' is used for people (meeting someone to get their news), while 'catch up on' is used for tasks, sleep, or media content.

Related Expressions

Practice

• I have three episodes left, so I need to ___ my favorite drama tonight.

  💡 To watch missed episodes so you are no longer behind.

  Show answer

  catch up on

• During the holidays, I plan to ___ all the movies I missed this year.

  💡 A three-word phrasal verb meaning to do something you didn't have time for earlier.

  Show answer

  catch up on