speed up to catch

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "speed up to catch" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing the action of increasing speed in order to reach or intercept something or someone. Example: "The runner had to speed up to catch the leading competitor before the finish line."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

"Some people speed up to catch the light," said Marie St. Fort, who works in a booth selling health insurance yards away from the edge of Eastern Parkway.

The New York Times

Our boat, the Cruise West Spirit of Discovery, was smaller and nimbler than the big ships, able to get in and out of narrow inlets, and at liberty to slow down any time somebody saw a grizzly bear on shore, or speed up to catch a pod of breaching humpback whales.

The New York Times - Travel

In the original circular cloak, the light detouring around the object must speed up to catch the light that passes by the cloak altogether.

Science Magazine

We further demonstrate how the adopted value can be used for designing the optimal transit times between ports, analyzing the viability of slow-steaming, checking whether ships should speed up to catch up to connecting ships on other services, and helping to predict the market share of less polluting fuels in view of rules on air emission.

Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice

"I think Tapiture would have to speed up to catch Untapable," he said, adding that he will make that call depending on how Tapiture performs in the Derby.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

People want Gmail to speed up, Yahoo! to catch up, or, someone, anyone, to make something better.

TechCrunch

"Double up to catch up".

The New York Times

It had to orbit the earth three times to build up enough momentum and speed to catch up, and then go into a hibernation mode to conserve power, until finally reaching the comet and ejecting probe Philae.

TechCrunch

Summoning up the enjoyably madcap image of Ennis running at lightning speed to catch up with a cycling Wiggins, William Hill's Rupert Adams said: There is no doubt that momentum has swung away from Bradley and Jess is steaming up on the outside.

The Guardian - Sport

In trying to make maximum speed in order to catch up, Szent Istváns turbines started to overheat and speed had to be reduced to 12 knots (22 km/h).

Wikipedia

"Ivory Coast are the top team on the continent with lots of quality, so we tried to speed up and try to catch out players like Drogba and Yaya Touré," said the Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "speed up to catch" when you want to convey the idea of increasing velocity specifically to reach a moving target or to achieve something before it's too late.

Common error

Do not use "speed up to catch" when the context already implies an increase in speed or a pursuit. Overusing intensifiers can weaken the sentence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "speed up to catch" functions as a purpose clause, indicating the reason for increasing speed. It describes an action (speeding up) undertaken with a specific goal in mind (catching something or someone). According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "speed up to catch" is a grammatically correct purpose connector indicating an increase in velocity to reach a target. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is correct and usable in written English. It is most frequently used in news and media contexts, with less frequent usage in scientific or wiki-based content. While not exceedingly common, the phrase effectively conveys intention and urgency. Alternative phrases include "accelerate to intercept" and "hasten to overtake". When writing, avoid redundancy and ensure that the context warrants the emphasis on increasing speed for pursuit.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Accelerate to intercept

Emphasizes a quicker increase in speed to meet a point.

Increase pace to reach

Highlights the gradual increase of velocity for arrival.

Hasten to overtake

Focuses on rapidly trying to get ahead of something or someone.

Expedite to seize

Indicates a rapid, efficient approach to taking hold of something.

Quicken to grab

Shortens time used trying to take something.

Step on the gas to get there

Refers to accelerating a vehicle, or metaphorically speeding up an action.

Pick up the tempo to get hold of

Suggests an increase in the measure of events in order to obtain.

Gain momentum to reach

Suggests that an ongoing effort is required to finally come to a destination.

Make haste to reach

Underlines the urgency to catch with something.

Press on to capture

Implies determination and effort in capturing.

FAQs

How can I use "speed up to catch" in a sentence?

You can use "speed up to catch" when you want to describe the action of increasing velocity in order to reach a moving target. For example: "The runner had to speed up to catch the leading competitor before the finish line".

Are there alternatives to "speed up to catch"?

Yes, depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "accelerate to intercept" or "hasten to overtake".

Is "speed up to catch" formal or informal?

The phrase "speed up to catch" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more formal alternatives may exist for specific situations.

What does "speed up to catch" imply?

The phrase "speed up to catch" implies an effort to increase velocity in order to reach a target that is moving away or at risk of being missed.