it almost caught

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it almost caught" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing a situation where something nearly succeeded in capturing or seizing something else, often in a metaphorical sense. Example: "The thief was quick, but the police were faster; it almost caught him as he fled down the alley."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

It almost caught the house on fire.

The New York Times - Magazine

It almost caught me off-guard.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

"This campaign," said Chris Lehane, Mr. Gore's press secretary, "was like a car where you turn the engine and it almost catches and almost catches.

The New York Times

It almost catches me by surprise, still now, that I had a little sister whom I was so close to, and I know that the tsunami happened to her, but beyond that I don't know anything".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

I then did my master's degree in half a year, so I almost caught up.

Science Magazine

"Sierra Leone gives particular tax exemptions to mining companies outside of general legislation, and so it's almost caught up in its own race to the bottom within the country, because mining companies negotiating new deals see these exemptions and want them as well," said Sharples.

The Guardian

71 James almost has a calamitous moment when he comes for a ball, decides against it and is almost caught 15 yards off his line.

The Guardian - Sport

He almost caught it — his fingertips actually came into contact with it in mid-air, but this only helped to propel it into the treasure-concealing foam of the sink, where an excruciating crack of broken glass followed upon the plunge.

The New Yorker

Today, average income per head in the 11 former Confederate states has almost caught up; it is $36,350, compared with a national average of $40,584.

The Economist

Sutherland's cross almost caught out Kello as it rebounded off the post before Hearts substitute Suso Santana went close from distance.

BBC

But it's followed by two dots, and then an almost caught as he tries to compensate, edging just in front of third man.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it almost caught", ensure the subject "it" is clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. For instance, instead of saying "The fire spread quickly; it almost caught", specify "The fire spread quickly; it almost caught the neighboring house."

Common error

Avoid using "it almost caught" when the action was definitively completed. This phrase indicates an incomplete action. For example, don't say "The police pursued the suspect, and it almost caught him" if the suspect was indeed caught. Instead, use "it caught him" or "it eventually caught him".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it almost caught" functions as a declarative statement describing a near miss or incomplete action. As Ludwig confirms, it's a correct and usable phrase. Examples from Ludwig show it used in various contexts to indicate something nearly happened but ultimately did not.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it almost caught" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to describe a near miss or incomplete action. As Ludwig confirms, it's suitable for various contexts, primarily appearing in news and media. When using the phrase, ensure clarity in the subject to prevent ambiguity. Alternatives like "it nearly captured" or "it came close to catching" can be used for a more formal tone. Avoid using the phrase if the action was definitively completed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it nearly captured

Replaces "almost caught" with synonyms "nearly" and "captured", maintaining a similar meaning but with a slightly more formal tone.

it very nearly caught

Combines "very nearly" to highlight the small difference between catching and not catching.

it came close to catching

Emphasizes the proximity of the event, using "came close" to convey the near miss.

it narrowly missed catching

Highlights the narrow margin by which something was not caught, using "narrowly missed".

it practically caught

Suggests that the act of catching was nearly complete, using "practically" to emphasize the almost successful outcome.

it almost succeeded in catching

Rephrases to explicitly state that the attempt to catch nearly succeeded.

it was on the verge of catching

Indicates that the event was very close to happening, using "on the verge of" to show imminence.

it just about caught

Implies the event happened by a very small degree and was almost not successful, using "just about".

it threatened to catch

Focuses on the potential danger or possibility of being caught, using "threatened".

it seemed about to catch

Expresses the appearance of an imminent catch, using "seemed about to".

FAQs

How can I rephrase "it almost caught" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, you could use phrases like "it nearly captured" or "it came close to catching". These alternatives provide a slightly elevated level of formality while retaining the original meaning.

What does "it almost caught" imply about the outcome?

The phrase "it almost caught" indicates that something came very close to succeeding in catching or seizing something else, but ultimately did not. It suggests a near miss or a close call.

Is "it almost caught" interchangeable with "it nearly caught"?

Yes, "it almost caught" and "it nearly caught" are largely interchangeable. "Nearly" is a direct synonym for "almost", so the meaning remains consistent.

Can "it almost caught" be used metaphorically?

Yes, "it almost caught" can be used metaphorically. For example, you could say "The economic crisis was severe; it almost caught the company unprepared", meaning the company was nearly caught off guard by the crisis.