catch up

Meaning

To catch up means to talk to someone you haven't seen in a while to find out what has happened in their life since you last spoke. It can also mean to reach the same level, standard, or position as someone who is ahead of you. It is a friendly, common expression used in both social and professional contexts.

Examples

• We haven't seen each other in years, so we need to catch up.

  We haven't seen each other in years, so we need to catch up.

• Let's grab a cup of coffee this afternoon and catch up.

  Let's grab a cup of coffee this afternoon and catch up.

• I missed a week of school, so I have to catch up on my homework.

  I missed a week of school, so I have to catch up on my homework.

• It was great catching up with you at the conference yesterday.

  It was great catching up with you at the conference yesterday.

• Go ahead, I'll catch up with you in a few minutes.

  Go ahead, I'll catch up with you in a few minutes.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I need to catch up my friend.

  ✓ I need to catch up with my friend.

  When you want to update yourself on someone's life, you must use the preposition 'with' after 'catch up'.

• ✗ We caught up our old times last night.

  ✓ We caught up on old times last night.

  Use 'catch up on' followed by the topic, news, or activities that you missed.

Related Expressions

Practice

• I can't wait to ___ with you over lunch tomorrow.

  💡 Talk about recent life updates.

  Show answer

  catch up

• She has a lot of work to ___ on after her vacation.

  💡 Reach the current status or workload.

  Show answer

  catch up