English idiom: “catch you later”

“Hey man, I can’t talk now. I’ll catch you later!”

English has many ways to say goodbye to someone: bye, see you later, take care, good night (all of which could use their own explanation!). Often you need to communicate something urgently but the person you want to tell isn’t quite available. I’ll catch you later is an informal way of letting someone know that you don’t have time to address the issue now but you plan to do so soon. 

It can also be used like see you later when you plan to see someone again but at an undetermined time. 

A fun way to remember this phrase is to think of going fishing. Imagine catching a fish but when you pull it out of the water it says “I know you must be hungry, but I really need to return home!” Reluctantly you lower it back into the water and yell “I’ll catch you later, fish!”

Now that you’ve learned this new English idiom, why not try and use it in with a Practicing English volunteer sometime this week?