caught their fancy

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "caught their fancy" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing something that has attracted someone's interest or attention. Example: "The colorful artwork caught their fancy, and they decided to purchase it for their home."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Lenders could put money into part or all of any loan that caught their fancy.

The New York Times

They had simply written songs that suited their voices and caught their fancy, they said.

The New York Times - Arts

All of these executives spent some of their early careers practicing law -- until business caught their fancy.

The New York Times

She has clients from across the country who e-mail or text her with images of shoes that have caught their fancy.

The New York Times

Only a few years ago, the Internet threatened to blur boundaries of genre and culture making it easy for listeners to fill their iPods with whatever caught their fancy.

The New York Times - Arts

Those who wanted to play got $10 million in virtual dollars to invest in whatever equities caught their fancy.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Even though the economy is in a funk, the rich are again buying designer clothing, luxury cars and about anything that catches their fancy.

The New York Times

Most Americans cannot be bothered to find out who the candidates are or what they stand for and if none catches their fancy they simply do not vote.

The Economist

They like to stop and browse and shop, to wander from stack to stack looking for something unknown that will catch their fancy.

The Guardian - Books

Even with the economy in a funk and many Americans pulling back on spending, the rich are again buying designer clothing, luxury cars and about anything that catches their fancy.

The New York Times

Those battles have subsided, thanks to a new generation of composers who pick and choose from whatever styles catch their fancy and who are averse to dogma in any form.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "caught their fancy" when you want to convey that something appealed to someone on a whim or based on personal preference, often without deep consideration.

Common error

Avoid using "caught their fancy" in highly formal or technical writing. Opt for alternatives like "attracted their attention" or "piqued their interest" for a more professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "caught their fancy" functions as a verb phrase indicating that something has attracted someone's interest or attention. Ludwig AI validates that it is correct and usable in English. The examples show it is commonly used to describe choices made based on personal appeal.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Wiki

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "caught their fancy" is an idiomatic expression used to describe something that has attracted someone's attention or interest, often on a whim. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It's most frequently found in news and media contexts, though it appears across various registers. For more formal settings, alternatives like "attracted their attention" or "piqued their interest" might be more appropriate. While not extremely common, it's a useful phrase for conveying a sense of spontaneous appeal or attraction.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

took their fancy

A more literal and slightly less common variation.

attracted their attention

A more general term indicating that something drew notice.

grabbed their attention

Emphasizes an immediate and forceful attraction.

appealed to them

Suggests a quality that was pleasing or agreeable.

piqued their interest

Emphasizes a slight or fleeting interest that was stimulated.

sparked their curiosity

Indicates a stimulation of inquisitiveness.

resonated with them

Suggests a deeper, more personal connection.

intrigued them

Implies a mysterious or fascinating quality.

captured their imagination

Suggests a vivid and creative attraction.

tickled their fancy

Indicates something amusing or delightful caught their attention.

FAQs

What does "caught their fancy" mean?

The phrase "caught their fancy" means something has attracted someone's interest or appealed to their taste, often on a whim or without serious consideration.

What can I say instead of "caught their fancy"?

You can use alternatives like "piqued their interest", "attracted their attention", or "appealed to them" depending on the context.

Is "caught their fancy" formal or informal?

"Caught their fancy" leans toward the informal side. For more formal contexts, consider using phrases such as "attracted their attention" or "piqued their interest".

How can I use "caught their fancy" in a sentence?

Example: "The vibrant colors of the painting immediately caught their fancy." You can use it to describe anything that someone finds appealing or interesting at first glance.