Which sentence uses 'come across' correctly?

I came across an old photo while cleaning the attic

I came across the street to meet you

I came across an old photo while cleaning the attic

The bridge came across the river

Which sentence uses 'come across' correctly?

She comes across as very confident in interviews

He came across the finish line first

Which sentence uses 'come by' correctly?

Good jobs are hard to come by these days

The bus will come by this route

Good jobs are hard to come by these days

I come by the office every morning at 8

Which sentence uses 'come by' correctly?

Can you come by my house later for coffee?

The train came by the station too fast

She comes by the grocery store home

Which sentence uses 'come out' correctly?

The new iPhone will come out next month

I need to come out from the house now

The new iPhone will come out next month

Which sentence uses 'come out' correctly?

The truth finally came out after the investigation

The students came out to the classroom

Catch Up On: Definition, History & Common Uses

"One who strives to catch up on the lessons of past mistakes will seldom repeat them and forge a wiser path forward."

📖 Definition

To gather information about or become up to date with something that one has missed, such as news, updates, or work.

Examples in context

After vacation, Sarah needed to catch up on her work emails urgently.
Mark spent the weekend catching up on his favorite TV shows.
They decided to meet weekly to catch up on each other's lives.

📖 Definition

To gather information about or become up to date with something that one has missed, such as news, updates, or work.

📝 Grammar Info

Separable

Yes

The verb can be split by inserting a pronoun between 'catch' and 'up.'

Neutral

Commonly used in both formal and informal contexts.

Transitive

Yes

Requires a direct object to specify what is being caught up on.

📊 Conjugation Table

Tense	Form	Example
Present Simple	catch up on	I need to catch up on the news today.
Past Simple	caught up on	She caught up on all her emails yesterday.
Present Continuous	catching up on	He is catching up on his work.
Present Perfect	have caught up on	We have caught up on the latest issues.

💡 When to Use

After missing information or updates

Use when you're regaining missed or lagged behind information, such as reading news, emails, or updates.

Example: "I need to catch up on last week's meetings."

When behind on tasks

Use when completing or reviewing tasks left incomplete or deferred to align with current responsibilities.

Example: "She spent Saturday catching up on household chores."

Reconnecting with friends or family

Use when reestablishing personal relationships to share or learn about personal news and developments.

Example: "Let's meet for coffee to catch up on each other's lives."

⚠️ Common Mistakes

Misplacement of object pronoun

❌ Wrong: I need to catch on up it.

✅ Correct: I need to catch up on it.

💡 Tip: Keep 'up' and 'on' together if using a pronoun.

Omission of 'on'

❌ Wrong: I need to catch up the news.

✅ Correct: I need to catch up on the news.

💡 Tip: Always add 'on' after 'catch up.'

Misuse of tense

❌ Wrong: I have catching up on my work.

✅ Correct: I have caught up on my work.

💡 Tip: Use 'caught' for past perfect tense.

Practice

CATCH UP ON - IN PRACTICE

Study Method Proposal

Listen and repeat the audio as many times as needed to improve your pronunciation
Use the audio as a dictation exercise, trying to write what you hear and understand
Create a new sentence following the structure of the example sentences

Examples in Context

1
Listen to example

After vacation, Sarah needed to catch up on her work emails urgently.
The World In Your Pocket
2
Listen to example

Mark spent the weekend catching up on his favorite TV shows.
The World In Your Pocket
3
Listen to example

They decided to meet weekly to catch up on each other's lives.
The World In Your Pocket

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

update refresh

Antonyms

ignore

Quick Check

Complete the sentence with the correct phrasal verb:

"She used the weekend to ___ all her overdue reports."

throw out

catch up on

skip over

pass by

❓ Frequently Asked Questions about Catch Up On

What is the origin of catch up on?

The phrase 'catch up on' aligns with the literal meaning of 'catch,' from Middle English cacchen and Old French cachier, meaning to capture. Over time, it evolved to encompass getting up-to-date with information or tasks in English vernacular.

Can 'catch up on' be used in formal and informal contexts?

The phrase 'catch up on' is versatile and neutral, making it suitable for both formal and informal contexts. In professional settings, it might refer to tasks or meetings, while in informal settings, it could pertain to personal events or information.

What is the difference between 'catch up on' and 'update'?

'Catch up on' implies regaining or reviewing missed information, while 'update' involves receiving or providing the latest information. While 'catch up on' suggests a backlog, 'update' indicates current timing, though they can sometimes overlap in usage.

Browse All The World In Your Pocket Phrasal Verbs

About the Author

Alessandra Nóbrega

History teacher who fell in love with English! This passion led me to specialize in languages and work on bilingual education projects. With 37 years in education, I believe learning should be meaningful – not just memorization.

Learn more about my journey

📖 Definition

📖 Definition

📝 Grammar Info

📊 Conjugation Table

💡 When to Use

⚠️ Common Mistakes

CATCH UP ON - IN PRACTICE

Study Method Proposal

Examples in Context

Synonyms & Antonyms

Quick Check

❓ Frequently Asked Questions about Catch Up On

Related Phrasal Verbs

Alessandra Nóbrega