Meanings
present singular third person catches it · participle present catching it · participle past caught it · past caught it
- idiomaticTo be severely reprimanded, punished, or beaten.
a. 1887, George Bernard Shaw, An Unsocial Socialist If they beat us, we shall catch it, and serve us right.
2 more examples
"You'll catch it, you know," said Tom, nodding his head in an admonitory manner, and hesitating a little as he took the scissors.
1860, George Eliot, The Mill on the FlossI'll catch it for your mischief in running away. And I'll catch it again when the tutor claps eyes on the handwriting.
2003, Sid Fleischman, The Whipping Boy, page 39
Synonyms & antonyms
verbUsed other than figuratively or idiomatically: see catch, it.
More synonyms by meaning
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Translations
French se faire appeler Arthur, se faire sonner les cloches
- se faire appeler Arthurto be scolded or chastised
- se faire sonner les clochesto be scolded or chastised
- se faire tirer les oreillesto be scolded or chastised
- se faire remonter les bretellesto be scolded or chastised
- se faire enguirlanderto be scolded or chastised
Polish być ukaranym
- być ukaranymto be scolded or chastised
Cite this entry
catch it. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/catch%20it
“catch it.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/catch%20it. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “catch it,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/catch%20it.
Source: catch it on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.