catch up

B1 · Intermediate Informal

phr.v. to talk to someone you have not seen for a while to find out what has happened in their life.

phr.v. to exchange information or news with someone after a period of separation.

“Let's have a coffee next week so we can catch up properly.”

“After five years apart, they spent the entire evening catching up on each other's careers and family lives.”

B1 · Intermediate

phr.v. to do something that you should have done earlier.

phr.v. to perform tasks or activities that have been delayed or neglected. Usually takes the preposition 'on'.

“I need to stay late at the office to catch up on some paperwork.”

“Having been away for a fortnight, the manager spent his first day back catching up on a mountain of urgent correspondence.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate

phr.v. to be involved in a situation, often one that is unpleasant or unexpected.

phr.v. to become involved or entangled in a situation, typically involuntarily. Frequently used in the passive voice.

Español:enredar

“He didn't mean to break the rules; he just got caught up in the excitement of the crowd.”

“Innocent bystanders were caught up in the political unrest that swept through the capital during the election cycle.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Informal

n. a meeting or conversation between people who have not seen each other for a while.

n. an occasion for catching up or receiving an update. Often written with a hyphen as 'catch-up'.

“We had a quick catch up over lunch to discuss the new project.”

“The weekly catch-up provides a vital opportunity for department heads to align their strategies and address any emerging bottlenecks.”