catch a picture

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'catch a picture' is not grammatically correct in written English.
It should be written as 'catch a glimpse' or 'take a picture' instead. For example: I caught a glimpse of the beautiful landscape before the sun set. Or: I took a picture of the beautiful landscape before the sun set.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Eat and drink free, and maybe catch a picture of Anderson Cooper?

The New York Times

Some even painted, "Yo Henry, you gotta catch a picture of this" on trains, as they vied for his attention and tried to outdo each other.

The New York Times

You may be able to catch a picture of the cat on camera so that you know they are nearby and focus your search.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

(Somehow, the term "jellyfish" doesn't capture the extravagant evolution and biology at work here!) Then I heard an underwater shout from David as he caught a picture of an exquisite tiny octopus zooming past.

The New York Times - Science

A forum member over at Cheap Ass Gamer caught a picture of hardcore PlayStation 3 fans (or Ebayers) outside of his local Best Buy this week.

TechCrunch

Owners and trainers made small talk with reporters, and fans lined the rail to catch a glimpse and snap a picture of their favorite Derby and Oaks horses.

The New York Times

While a boy caught sending a picture of himself may be regarded as a fool or even a boastful stud, girls, regardless of their bravado, are castigated as sluts.

The New York Times

Sitting in a doctor's waiting room one day, Hagborg became fascinated by a single human hair, caught in a picture frame.

The Guardian - Arts

Google, meanwhile, will face embarrassment when it is caught altering a picture for its StreetView photo mapping service, after a German protester makes an obscene gesture as a camera-equipped StreetView car drives past.

The New York Times - Tech

In fact, as a 17-year-old I found myself caught in a picture published in The Independent on Sunday in 1991 alongside a pretty demeaning piece entitled "Liverpool: the City that Britain Failed".

Independent

But if you're ever caught taking a picture, you risk getting ejected and blacklisted from the club for the rest of your sorry life (or at least that's what they tell you).

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using more standard phrases like "take a picture" or "capture an image" for clarity and grammatical correctness.

Common error

Be careful not to create non-idiomatic expressions by directly translating concepts. Instead of "catch a picture", opt for established phrases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "catch a picture" functions as a verb phrase, attempting to describe the action of obtaining or taking a photograph. As the Ludwig AI points out, this phrasing is not grammatically correct in formal English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Wiki

33%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "catch a picture" aims to convey the idea of taking or obtaining a photograph, it is considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. Ludwig AI suggests that alternatives such as "take a picture", "capture an image", or "snap a photo" are more appropriate. Although some sources include this phrase, it is advisable to use established and grammatically sound alternatives for clarity and correctness. This improves communication, particularly in formal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

take a photograph

Refers to the act of capturing an image using a camera, emphasizing the action of creating a photographic record.

snap a photo

Indicates quickly taking a picture, often in an informal setting.

capture an image

Focuses on recording or preserving a visual representation.

get a snapshot

Emphasizes obtaining a casual or informal picture.

grab a picture

Implies quickly and opportunistically taking a photograph.

obtain a photograph

Focuses on the act of acquiring a photograph.

acquire an image

Suggests gaining possession of an image, whether through photography or other means.

secure a photo

Implies ensuring one has obtained a picture, often with a sense of effort or planning.

record visually

Refers to documenting something through visual means, often implying a broader context than just taking a picture.

document photographically

Highlights the use of photography as a means of documenting or recording information.

FAQs

What is a grammatically correct alternative to "catch a picture"?

More grammatically sound alternatives include "take a picture", "capture an image", or "snap a photo".

Is "catch a picture" considered proper English?

No, "catch a picture" isn't considered proper English. A more standard phrasing would be "take a picture" or "get a photo".

When is it appropriate to use "catch a picture"?

While not technically correct, "catch a picture" might be used informally. However, in most contexts, using phrases like "take a photo" or "capture an image" is preferable.

What does "catch a picture" mean?

The intended meaning of "catch a picture" is to take or obtain a photograph. However, the phrasing is non-idiomatic; it's better to say "take a photo" instead.