Phrase guide

catch oneself on

phrase · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˌkæt͡ʃ ˌwʌnsɛlf ˈɒn/
  • General-American: /ˌkɛt͡ʃ ˌwʌnsɛlf ˈɑn/
  • General-American: /kæt͡ʃ-/
  • rhymes with -ɒn

1

phrase

Meaning 1

To cause (oneself) to get or regain a proper appreciation of a situation; to behave in the expected, sensible way; to stop fooling around or being silly.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: imperative, informal

Qualifier: Ireland (especially Northern Ireland)

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

See catch on.

Across languages

Translations

2 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: ryhdistäytyä — to cause (oneself) to get or regain a proper appreciation of a situation; to behave in the expected, sensible way
  • Serbo-Croatian: skopčati — to cause (oneself) to get or regain a proper appreciation of a situation; to behave in the expected, sensible way