Phrasal verb
catch up in
Definition
phrasal verb. to become involved in a situation, often by accident or without wanting to be.
phrasal verb. to become entangled or involved in a situation, typically one that is problematic, complex, or beyond one's control; often used in the passive voice.
Examples
“I didn't want to get caught up in their argument.”
“Many innocent bystanders were caught up in the protests that broke out downtown yesterday.”
“The small company found itself caught up in a massive legal battle between two international tech giants.”
Examples
simple
“I didn't want to get caught up in their argument.”
contextual
“Many innocent bystanders were caught up in the protests that broke out downtown yesterday.”
complex
“The small company found itself caught up in a massive legal battle between two international tech giants.”
Usage
most frequently used in the passive form 'be/get caught up in' followed by a noun for a situation or event.
Teaching tip
distinguish this from 'catch up with' (meeting someone or reaching a level); 'caught up in' implies being trapped or absorbed by a situation like a net.
Pitfall
He was caught up on the drama.
He was caught up in the drama.
use 'in' for involvement in situations; 'on' is used for updating oneself with information.
Phrasal verb
Particles
up in
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
catch + up + in + object
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/catch-up-in