Catch-Fart, subs. (old).—A footman, or page boy. [A combination of
catch, in its ordinary sense, + fart (q.v.). Fourbesque, bolognino and
falcone (‘a falcon’).]
Catch it, verb (colloquial).—To get a scolding or castigation; to get
into trouble; to ‘come in for it.’ For synonyms, see Tan and Wig.
1835. Marryat, Jacob Faithful, ch. xxxviii. We all thought Tom was
about to catch it.
1848. Mrs. Gaskell, M. Barton, xxxi. I shall catch it down stairs,
I know.
1872. Black, Adv. Phaeton, xvi., 218. He catches it if he does not
bring home a fair proportion to his wife.
Catch me! or Catch me at it! phr. (colloquial).—An intimation that the
person speaking will not do such and such a thing. An analogous phrase
is don’t you wish you may get it!
1780. Mrs. Cowley, The Belle’s Stratagem, Act iii., Sc. 2. First
Gent. May I be a bottle, and an empty bottle, if you catch me at
that! Why, I am going to the masquerade.
1830. Galt, Lawrie, T., V., iv. (1849), 207. Catch me again at such
costly daffin.
1841. R. B. Peake, Court and City, I., i. Satisfaction! Catch me at
that!
1846. Dickens, Dombey and Son, I., p. 112, col. 3. ‘You have a
committee to-day at three, you know.’ ‘And one at three,
three-quarters,’ added Mr. Dombey, ‘Catch you at forgetting
anything!’ exclaimed Carker.
Catch on, verb (colloquial).—To understand; to grasp in meaning; to
apprehend; to attach or fix oneself to; to quickly seize an opportunity
and turn it to advantage. [A literal translation, in fact, into the
language of slang of the Latin apprehendere.] A French equivalent is
piger, but for synonyms, see Twig.
1884. Lisbon (Dakota) Star, 27 June. Now is the time to catch on in
order to keep up with the procession. [m.]
1889. The Nation, 19 Dec., p. 499, col. 1.... The farmer knows only
the traffic of his market town and his county, and he is slow to
catch on to the new and progressive.
1890. Globe, Feb. 13, p. 1. col. 5. Well, assuming that the notion
were to catch on, and the example of this enterprising mother to be
generally imitated in the upper orbits of the social system, would
there be a balance of advantage to the nation?
Catch on a Snag, verbal phr. (American).—to catch a Tartar (q.v.); to
meet with one’s superior.
1887. Stuart Cumberland, The Queen’s Highway. In rough Western
parlance a man who falls in with such a player (a man, who, bearing
a high reputation for all-round godliness, is a crack ‘poker’
player) catches on a snag, and it is said that everyone who visits
the North-West comes across, sooner or later, the snag on which he
is to catch.
Catch on the Hop, verbal phr. (popular).—Properly to catch or have on
the hip, as Gratiano catches Shylock.—See Hop.
c. 1869. The Chickaleary Bloke, sung by Vance. For to get me on the
hop, or on my ‘tibby’ drop, You must wake up very early in the
morning.
Catch-Pole, subs. (old).—A warrant-officer; a bum-bailiff. A very old
term formerly in respectable use, but employed contemptuously from the
sixteenth century. [From catch, to arrest, or stop, + pole or poll, the
head.] Fourbesque, foco or fuoco = fire. Cf., Bum-bailiff.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., bk. XVIII., 46. Crucifige, quod a cacchepolle
I warante hym a wicche. [m.]
c. 1510. Barclay, Mrr. Good Mann. (1570), G., iv. Be no towler,
catchpoll, nor customer.
1601. B. Johnson, Poetaster, III. Catchpole, loose the gentlemen,
or by my velvet arms, etc.
1751. Smollett, Peregrine Pickle, ch. xcvii. The catchpole, after a
diligent search, had an opportunity of executing the writ upon the
defendant.
1859. Sala, Gaslight and Daylight, ch. xiii. You are brought there
by a catchpole, and kept there under lock and key until your
creditors are paid.
Catch the Wind of the Word, verbal phr. (Irish).—To quickly understand
the meaning of what is said. For synonyms, see Twig.
Catchy, adj. (colloquial).—Vulgarly or cheaply attractive; of a quality
to take the eye or ear; easily caught and remembered (as a tune).
Wrongly used in quot. 1885.