I didn't catch that

USAGE SUMMARY

'I didn't catch that' is correct and usable in written English
You can use it when you didn't understand something that someone said. For example: Person 1: I'm going to the grocery store tomorrow. Person 2: Really? What are you going to get? Person 1: I didn't catch that. Could you please repeat it?

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

"I didn't catch that".

The New Yorker

(Or maybe The Kardashians. I don't know. I didn't catch that. I figure they're probably the winners, cash-wise anyway).

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Emma: I didn't catch that!

Huffington Post

CM: No, I didn't catch that, we were riding in from another gig.

Huffington Post

Unfortunately 99% of you don't have the guts to repost this!" Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't catch that, as I was too busy actually spending time with my sibling and not just making the claim with a pitiful 154 characters.

Huffington Post

If they say something rude, say, "Sorry, I didn't catch that".

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

The funnest part 'bout it youcandosom'emlikethis, "fuuccckuuuuuuuippp". Now if you didn't catch that, I just went back in time.

TechCrunch

"Well bowled, young man," he said as he walked past, "but you didn't catch that".

The Guardian - Sport

But male toys didn't catch that wave.

Vice

Maybe you didn't catch that... AS PART OF THE COLUMBUS DAY SALE.

Huffington Post

Okay, we didn't catch that entire episode, but we read all about it here.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I didn't catch that" when you genuinely didn't hear or understand something. It's a polite way to ask for clarification without blaming the speaker.

Common error

Avoid using "I didn't catch that" excessively, especially in professional settings. Vary your responses with alternatives like "Could you please clarify?" or "I'm sorry, I didn't quite understand."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I didn't catch that" primarily functions as an interrogative response. It politely indicates that the speaker did not hear or understand what was previously said and requests a repetition or clarification. Ludwig provides various examples of its use in real-world contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "I didn't catch that" is a polite and generally acceptable way to indicate that you didn't hear or understand something. According to Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct and is considered neutral in terms of formality. It's commonly used in News & Media and Wiki contexts. However, varying your responses with alternatives is recommended to avoid overuse, especially in professional settings. The examples provided by Ludwig showcase its usage across diverse scenarios, helping to understand its proper application and context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I didn't hear you

Focuses on the auditory aspect, meaning the speaker didn't perceive the sound.

I didn't understand that

Shifts the focus to comprehension rather than simply hearing the words.

Could you repeat that?

A direct request for the speaker to say the information again.

What did you say?

A more informal way of asking for a repetition.

Pardon?

A very brief and polite way to ask someone to repeat themselves.

Excuse me?

Similar to "pardon", often used to indicate you didn't hear or understand.

I missed that

Implies that you were not paying attention or were distracted.

I didn't get that

A more casual way of saying you didn't understand.

Come again?

An informal way to ask for repetition, common in some dialects.

Say that again?

Another informal way to request a repetition.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "I didn't catch that"?

You can use alternatives like "I didn't hear you", "could you repeat that", or "what did you say" depending on the context.

Is "I didn't catch that" formal or informal?

"I didn't catch that" is generally considered neutral to slightly informal. In highly formal situations, consider using "I beg your pardon" or "Could you please repeat that?"

How to use "I didn't catch that" in a sentence?

You can use "I didn't catch that" directly after someone says something you didn't understand. For example: "I'll meet you at the usual spot." "I didn't catch that. Where are we meeting?"

What's the difference between "I didn't catch that" and "I didn't understand that"?

"I didn't catch that" implies you didn't hear or perceive the words properly, while "I didn't understand that" suggests you heard the words but didn't grasp their meaning.