catch dinner

USAGE SUMMARY

"catch dinner" is not a proper sentence in written English.
It is more commonly used as a command to go and collect food for dinner. For example, "Please go and catch dinner while I set the table."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science & Research

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

It was lavishly praised; the waiters supposedly would dive right into the water to catch dinner.

The New York Times

The best parts of the day come when we are out on the boat and diving to catch dinner.

The Guardian - Travel

We became "social animals", as biologists describe us, not to catch dinner, but to avoid ­becoming it – out of fear, in other words.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

She also joked with James Brolin, Ms. Streisand's husband, and shared a moment with Mr. Luhrmann, who managed to make it back from the Vogue/CFDA event in time to catch dinner.

The New York Times

Around 7 o'clock, Mr. Gorski and Ms. Lee, along with Ms. Geary and the Bens (whom everyone had, for convenience's sake, nicknamed Best Made Ben and Patagonia Ben), sped off in the boat to catch dinner.

The New York Times

We were invited to pick all the oranges we wanted from the tree growing next to the back door; there are fishing poles and a rowboat so you can catch dinner (if you have a license) and throw it on the grill.

The New York Times - Travel

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Catching dinner for 15 isn't easy.

The New York Times - Magazine

I didn't mind that we hadn't caught dinner yet.

The Washington Post

He sometimes catches dinner at the pond, and Mrs. Kuzma, who has planted her usual large garden and cans her own vegetables, was baking pies last week, using apples from their orchard.

The New York Times

A black sled tipped sideways kept the grill shielded from the wind as his son, Dave Stewart Stuckert, caught dinner — a flopping two-pound brown trout that the family's two Chesapeake Bay retrievers, named Gunner and Toby, licked as it rose from the frigid water.

The New York Times

I have literally caught dinner on fire on more than one occasion and I keep a stash of boxed mac and cheese on hand at all times.

HuffPost

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "catch dinner", ensure the context clearly indicates the method of acquiring food, such as fishing or hunting. For example, instead of just stating "Let's "catch dinner"", specify "Let's go fishing to "catch dinner"".

Common error

Avoid using "catch dinner" as a complete sentence. It's better to phrase it as part of a larger sentence to provide context and clarity such as "We're going to "catch dinner" at the lake."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "catch dinner" functions primarily as a verb phrase suggesting the action of acquiring or obtaining food for the evening meal, often through hunting, fishing, or foraging. Ludwig indicates that this phrase is not considered grammatically correct as a standalone sentence.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Travel

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Social Media

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "catch dinner" is an interesting case. While Ludwig AI identifies it as not grammatically correct as a standalone sentence, it's commonly used, especially in informal contexts, to describe the act of acquiring food for the evening meal, often through hunting or fishing. The phrase appears frequently in news and media sources, as well as travel-related content, demonstrating its prevalence in everyday language. When using "catch dinner", it's best to provide additional context to make the meaning clear. If a more formal tone is needed, consider alternatives such as "prepare dinner" or "obtain dinner".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

get dinner

Replaces "catch" with a more general term for acquiring food.

find dinner

Emphasizes the act of locating food.

prepare dinner

Focuses on the preparation aspect rather than the acquisition.

snag dinner

Informal way to express managing to get dinner.

secure dinner

Highlights the effort to ensure there is food for the evening meal.

land dinner

Suggests obtaining dinner, often through hunting or fishing.

obtain dinner

A more formal way of saying "get dinner".

bag dinner

Implies securing dinner through hunting, similar to "land dinner".

arrange dinner

Focuses on the planning or organization of the meal.

procure dinner

A more elaborate way of saying "get dinner", suggesting effort or difficulty.

FAQs

How can I use "catch dinner" in a sentence?

Use "catch dinner" as part of a larger sentence, specifying the method or location, for example, "We plan to go fishing and "catch dinner" at the river".

What's a more formal way to say "catch dinner"?

For a more formal tone, consider alternatives such as "prepare dinner" or "obtain dinner". These options are less colloquial and more suitable for professional or academic contexts.

What does it mean to "catch dinner"?

To "catch dinner" typically means to acquire food for the evening meal, often through hunting, fishing, or other means of directly obtaining it from nature.

Which is correct, "catch dinner" or "getting dinner"?

"Getting dinner" is more grammatically complete and universally accepted. "Catch dinner" is often used informally and implies a more direct, hands-on approach to acquiring the meal. You could also say "get dinner", which is generally more acceptable.