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Phrasal verbs "catch up" vs "touch up"

Differences between catch up and touch up

Catch up means to reach the same level or position as someone or something that was ahead of you, while touch up means to improve or fix something slightly.

Meanings and Definitions: catch up vs touch up

Learn how to use these expressions through these examples

Catch up

  • 1Get work, etc, up to date..

    I was ill for a fortnight and now I've got to CATCH UP on the work I missed.

  • 2Reach someone who was ahead of you.

    He started well, but I CAUGHT him UP on the third lap.

Touch up

  • 1Improve the appearance of something.

    I couldn't be bothered to redecorate, so I just TOUCHED UP the bits that needed painting the most.

  • 2Touch someone in a sexual way.

    She got angry when he tried to TOUCH her UP in the elevator.

Usage Examples: catch up, touch up in Sentences

Learn how to use these expressions through these examples

catch up

Example

I need to catch up on my homework this weekend.

Example

She catches up on her favorite TV shows during the weekend.

touch up

Example

I need to touch up the paint on the door.

Example

She touches up her makeup before the party.

Similar Expressions(Synonyms) of Catch up

keep pace with

To maintain the same speed or level as someone or something that was ahead of you.

Example

She had to run faster to keep pace with her friend who was already ahead of her.

make up for lost time

To work harder or faster to compensate for time lost due to delays or setbacks.

Example

After being sick for a week, she had to make up for lost time by working overtime to meet the deadline.

get up to speed

To become informed or knowledgeable about a topic or situation that one was previously unaware of.

Example

He had to get up to speed on the latest developments in the project before attending the meeting.

Similar Expressions(Synonyms) of Touch up

fine-tune

To make small adjustments or improvements to something to make it work better or look better.

Example

He had to fine-tune the engine to get the car running smoothly again.

polish up

To improve or refine something to make it more presentable or attractive.

Example

She had to polish up her presentation before delivering it to the clients.

revise

To make changes or corrections to something to improve its accuracy or effectiveness.

Example

He had to revise his essay several times before submitting it to the professor.

Explore more Phrasal Verbs

Here are some phrasal verbs with the same verbs or particles

Phrasal Verbs with “up”

Differences in catch up vs touch up: Usage, Formality, and Tone

Frequency in Daily Use: catch up or touch up?

In daily conversation, people use catch up more often than touch up. This is because catch up is used in a variety of situations such as work, sports, and social events. Touch up is less common and mainly used when talking about fixing small details or making slight improvements to something.

Informal vs Formal: Contextual Use of catch up and touch up

Catch up and touch up are both informal phrases suitable for everyday conversations. However, touch up may be used in more formal settings like art or design contexts, where it refers to improving the quality of an artwork or design.

Tone and Implication: The Nuances of catch up and touch up

The tone of catch up and touch up can differ based on context. Catch up often carries a competitive or ambitious tone when related to work or sports, while touch up typically has a creative or artistic tone, especially when referring to improving the quality of an artwork or design.

catch up & touch up: Synonyms and Antonyms

Catch up

Synonyms

Antonyms

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