catch the connection

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "catch the connection" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to understanding or recognizing a relationship or link between ideas, concepts, or events. Example: "After discussing the two theories, I finally managed to catch the connection between them."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

By 1858 we're running 10 mins late – no hints why from the train staff … but we catch the connection and arrive only 15 minutes later than I would have been on a through train.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Anyone who has seen the movie Moneyball or read the best-selling book will immediately catch the baseball connection.

Huffington Post

Directions: Take BART to Concord and catch the County Connection 10 bus to Marsh Creek Road/Bigelow Street (the journey takes about an hour and a half).

Huffington Post

Listeners familiar with 1980's pop caught the musical connection: the line comes from a song by Lisa Lisa and the Cult Jam.

The New York Times - Arts

Citibank admits that its monitoring at the time fell short of the standards that would be required today.What catches the headlines is the connection of these financial flows with crime.

The Economist

For instance, the fishermen that fight government limits on their catches, missing the connection that fewer fish now sustains the source of their jobs into the future.

The New York Times

"You do it enough and you don't even think about it anymore," she said while rushing to catch a connection at the Hempstead bus terminal one recent evening.

The New York Times

What catches the eye is the close connection between the scientific analyses of future-related questions, policy planning and future-oriented management consulting.

European Journal of Futures Research

Three times, the suit states, the doughnut spies caught the truck making deliveries to Donut Connection stores.

The New York Times

Fate tested him again when he flew from New Zealand to Australia to catch his connection home and ended up alongside Clerc.

The Guardian - Sport

No one has been caught in connection with the killings.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "catch the connection" in travel contexts, ensure it's clear which mode of transport you are referring to (e.g., train, flight, bus).

Common error

Avoid using "catch the connection" when you actually mean to describe understanding an abstract relationship; instead, use alternatives like "make the connection" or "grasp the connection".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "catch the connection" primarily functions as a verb phrase. Ludwig indicates that it describes the act of successfully arriving in time for a connecting transport or, more abstractly, understanding a link. Examples show its usage in both literal and figurative contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Academia

7%

Reference

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "catch the connection" is grammatically sound and, according to Ludwig, serves to describe either successfully arriving in time for connecting transport or understanding a link between concepts. While the phrase is more frequent in news and media sources, its usage extends to wiki and scientific contexts. When using it, ensure clarity regarding the mode of transport or the nature of the link being described. Remember, if you intend to describe understanding a concept, consider alternatives like "make the connection" instead. Despite its relative infrequency, the phrase is well-understood and readily applicable in various writing styles.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

make it for the connecting flight

Specifically refers to succeeding in getting to a connecting flight.

arrive in time for the connecting train

Details arriving in time for a train instead of being a general connection.

reach the connecting transport

Refers to any type of connection.

make the connection

Focuses on understanding a link, rather than physically arriving for a transport.

get to the connecting bus

Focuses on reaching a connecting bus.

grasp the connection

Emphasizes understanding an abstract link, less about transport.

board the connecting flight

Implies not only arriving but also entering the connecting flight.

understand the link

Similar to 'grasp', but slightly more direct.

perceive the connection

Highlights a mental realization rather than physical action.

identify the relationship

Emphasizes recognizing a relation rather than arriving for transport.

FAQs

How can I use "catch the connection" in a sentence?

You can use "catch the connection" to describe successfully arriving in time for a connecting mode of transportation, such as "Despite the delay, we managed to "catch the connection" and arrive only 15 minutes late."

What does "catch the connection" mean in a travel context?

In a travel context, "catch the connection" means to arrive in time for a connecting flight, train, or other mode of transport after a previous leg of the journey.

What can I say instead of "catch the connection"?

Alternatives include "make the connecting flight", "arrive in time for the connecting train", or "get to the connecting bus".

Is it grammatically correct to say "catch the connection"?

Yes, "catch the connection" is grammatically correct and commonly used to describe arriving in time for a connecting transport.