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Idiom of the Day: What's the catch?

Average: 4 (22 votes)
Wed, 07/04/2012 - 07:22 — Chris McCarthy

What's the catch?

Let's look at two uses of catch:

As a verb catch can mean to capture; not allow a person, animal or thing to escape:

"The fisherman caught a fish in his net."
"The police are still trying to catch the man who escaped from jail last night."

What's the catch is not an idiom about fishing!

We use it when something sounds good, but we are worried about any hidden problems. We are asking what are the drawbacks. When something is too good to be true we ask what's the catch?

"OK, I've seen all the benefits, but what's the catch?"
"The restaurant is offering free lunch, but what's the catch?"

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Comments

Wed, 07/04/2012 - 18:41 — Grenadier

I am from Ukraine

I suggest to chat you! Let's try to chat together in Engl.
You ask me 'What's the catch?'
I answer you, this needs to improve your experience.

Mon, 07/09/2012 - 15:37 — Mahi Shahid

Help me!

Hi! plz help me to understand the meaning of WHAT'S THE CATCH?

Thu, 07/12/2012 - 11:09 — trezor

helped?

It means you think something is too good to be true and there must be something behind it.

E.g.

Scott: Hey man, my boss got us two free tickets to see the Lakers game.
Joe: What's the catch?

Thu, 07/12/2012 - 12:14 — Mahi Shahid

Thanks for helping me!

Now tell me that why is Joe saying "What's the catch"??? I'm still confused!!I didn't understand!Give me another example! plz!

Thu, 07/12/2012 - 12:24 — trezor

Joe does not believe that

Joe does not believe that the boss gave them free tickets without any request to do something for him.

It sounds good, but are there any hidden problems?

Sounds too good to be true. What's the catch?

This looks like a good deal. What's the catch?

If you need more examples just type What's the catch? phrase in google.com there are plenty examples and explanation.

Fri, 07/13/2012 - 06:52 — Mahi Shahid

Ok,,joe listens something

Ok,,joe listens something too good but he doesnt believes that.He thinks that there is something bad hidden in this good thing..so he's asking that Waht's the catch...that he cant give us free tickets so how is he giving now??He is actually asking for the problem hidden behind??? Am I right??

Mon, 07/09/2012 - 15:34 — Mahi Shahid

Confused!!!

I am confused!! I still can't understand the meaning of "WHAT'S THE CATCH"!!Can anyone help me please?

Wed, 07/11/2012 - 19:00 — Yura

what's the catch?

There is a trick in it - I understand the meaning of this idiom.

Thu, 07/12/2012 - 12:15 — Mahi Shahid

You underatood the meaning

You underatood the meaning of this idiom???So help me plz!

Sun, 07/22/2012 - 13:50 — jyoti nagwani

Are these sentences correct?

1>Yes,I want to do MBA after my graduation what's the catch?
2>SCA institute is organizing free workshops but what's the catch?
3>Doing phd sounds good but what's the catch?

Thu, 08/30/2012 - 13:40 — Ahmadhandasa

For Arabs! Eng

What is the catch!
In Arabic,the proper translation for that idiom is " ma al-,oqabel" ما المقابل ؟!
Am I right!
When someone offer you something you wanna do or don't have and really need to like a job! your reply would be ,thanks ,but what should i do for you to get your offer? what is the service/favor I can do for you and in exchange you would get me the job?!
in Egyptian Arabic,It is " eih el-mo-qa-bel"?ايه المقابل؟
someone correct me if i got it wrong!!

Thu, 10/18/2012 - 14:48 — marcomaraschin

My opinion

What's the catch - you use it when you want know why something is GOOD now and It was always BAD. That's why we say "hidden problems".

For example: The store is selling clothes in a good price, but what's the catch?
(why the store is selling clothes in a good price If It always has sold in a bad price.)

Did you understand?