can't catch up

USAGE SUMMARY

"can't catch up" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to imply that the speaker is struggling to keep pace with a situation, person, or thing. For example, "The work was piling up and I couldn't catch up."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

"Sustainability is maturing in our industry, but Alcoa is the most mature," says Anton. "Others are catching up but we will run fast, so they can't catch up.

The Guardian

Without help, this group risks falling so far behind that it can't catch up.

The New York Times

We've been in nothing, and we can't catch up to them in that regard.

The New York Times - Sports

"You can catch measles but you can't catch up with measles – it is a forlorn exercise.

The Guardian

"You can't catch up on 16, 17 practices in a day," Marcin said.

The New York Times - Sports

I hope I'm wrong, but the problem is, we can't catch up soon enough".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

9 human-written examples

There's a sense that they can't catch you up there".

The New York Times

That doesn't mean to say that we can't ever catch up".

The Guardian - Tech

Prediction isn't easy or painless, especially if the other person in your favorite dyad can't always catch up with your process.

Huffington Post

"When you're 19 and 20, you're running around at a million miles an hour, and the world can't even catch up," she said.

The New York Times - Arts

To carry on when we sometimes feel like we can't even catch up.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "can't catch up" to express difficulty or inability to reach a certain level, standard, or pace, whether it's in skills, progress, or competition. Make sure the context clearly indicates what is being chased or equaled.

Common error

Avoid using "can't catch up" without a clear object. Ensure the reader understands what the subject is failing to catch up to. For instance, instead of saying "I can't catch up", specify "I can't catch up with the workload."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "can't catch up" functions as a verbal phrase expressing an inability or difficulty in reaching the same level or pace as something else. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Wiki

10%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

5%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "can't catch up" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to describe the inability to reach the same level or pace as something else. Ludwig AI validates its usability in written English. It is versatile, appearing in news articles, informal conversations, and even academic discussions. Common alternatives include "fall behind" and "struggle to keep up". When using "can't catch up", ensure the context is clear and the object of the phrase is easily understood by the reader. With a high expert rating and widespread use, "can't catch up" is a reliable and effective way to express the difficulty or impossibility of matching a particular pace or standard.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fall behind

Focuses on the action of lagging rather than the impossibility of recovering.

be unable to keep pace

More formal and emphasizes the inability to maintain the same speed or progress.

struggle to keep up

Highlights the effort involved in trying to maintain the same level.

fail to measure up

Indicates a failure to reach a required standard or expectation.

be left in the dust

More figurative, suggesting being significantly outpaced.

be outstripped

Suggests being surpassed, particularly in a competitive sense.

be outdone

Focuses on being surpassed or excelled by someone or something else.

lag behind

Simple and direct, indicating a position behind others.

lose ground

Emphasizes the loss of progress or position.

be unable to get ahead

Focuses on the inability to make progress or improve one's position.

FAQs

How can I use "can't catch up" in a sentence?

Use "can't catch up" to indicate an inability to reach the same level or pace as something else. For example, "Despite working overtime, I "can't catch up" with the project deadlines."

What can I say instead of "can't catch up"?

You can use alternatives like "fall behind", "struggle to keep up", or "be unable to keep pace" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "can't catch up" or "cannot catch up"?

Both "can't catch up" and "cannot catch up" are grammatically correct. "Can't" is a contraction of "cannot" and is generally used in informal contexts. "Cannot" is more formal but they have essentially the same meaning.

What's the difference between "can't catch up" and "falling behind"?

"Can't catch up" suggests an active attempt to reach the same level but failing, while "falling behind" simply means lagging or progressing slower, without necessarily implying an effort to match the pace.