catch up on things

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "catch up on things" is correct and can be used in written English.
It means to get up to date on activities or events that have happened. For example: I need some time to catch up on things before our meeting tomorrow.

✓ Grammatically correct

Wiki

News & Media

Science & Research

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

Leave at least one hour a day to be able to catch up on things you forgot or didn't do.

WikiHow

BREAKFAST OR BRUNCH We sit around and talk, catch up on things.

The New York Times

Some took advantage of the relative peace and quiet away from 15 to catch up on things.

The New York Times

He has a big desire to catch up on things he missed in his years of captivity".

The Guardian

Sometimes I'd call him just to catch up on things — his life, Tante Denise, the political news from Haiti.

The New Yorker

Then I go into the living room and do my Sunday morning download: I read Tumblr, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram, and catch up on things I may have missed during the week.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

"We just talked and caught up on things.

The New York Times - Sports

We caught up on things, my grandmother slipping in her usual accounts of the surroundings.

The New York Times - Magazine

He was caught up on things around our house, so he started in on someone else's.

Huffington Post

This way the hosts can plan to get caught up on things they may have put on hold while you are staying with them.

WikiHow

The show's conceit, she explains, is that it's the Dolans' Saturday morning catch-up-on-things telephone call.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "catch up on things", be specific about what you are catching up on to provide clarity and context. For example, "I need to catch up on emails" is better than simply saying "I need to catch up on things".

Common error

Avoid using "catch up on things" as a vague placeholder. Replace it with specific tasks or areas you need to address for better communication.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "catch up on things" primarily functions as a verb phrase. It commonly expresses the action of becoming current or up-to-date with tasks, information, or activities that have been neglected or missed. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is frequently used in English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Wiki

23%

Science & Research

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "catch up on things" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to describe the act of getting up to date with pending tasks or information. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and versatile, fitting various contexts, though specificity enhances clarity. The phrase is found in many sources, including news, media, wikis and science. Remember to use more specific language for a more impactful message, and consider alternatives like "get up to speed" or "bring oneself up to date" depending on the situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

get up to speed

Focuses more on quickly becoming knowledgeable about something.

get current with

Implies updating oneself with the latest information.

bring oneself up to date

A more formal way of saying to update oneself.

make up for lost time

Emphasizes compensating for missed opportunities or activities.

get abreast of

Suggests becoming informed about recent developments.

reconnect on pending matters

Focuses on reconnecting to discuss pending topics.

fill the gaps

Addresses specific information or skill deficiencies.

square away loose ends

Implies finalizing incomplete tasks.

get on top of

Highlights gaining control over tasks or responsibilities.

look into pending tasks

Implies investigating incomplete tasks.

FAQs

How can I use "catch up on things" in a sentence?

You can use "catch up on things" to indicate a need to get up to date with pending tasks or information. For example, "I need to "catch up on things" after my vacation".

What's a more formal way to say "catch up on things"?

A more formal alternative is "bring oneself up to date", which is suitable for professional contexts.

Is it okay to use "catch up on things" in a professional email?

While acceptable, it's better to specify what you need to catch up on. For example, instead of saying "I need to "catch up on things"", say "I need to "catch up on emails" and project updates".

What can I say instead of "catch up on things" when talking about news?

You can use "get abreast of" or "get up to speed" to indicate that you want to learn about the latest developments.