catch as catch can en · VERB
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
Meanings
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(idiomatic, imperative, no-past, participle, past) To use any available means or methods.
Which being done, the Women run in the dark to catch as catch can; and whatever Lot they light on,[…]
1698, John Fryer, “Carries Us to Jelfa; Where Is Treated of the Gabers, or Original Persians, the Armenians, Georgians, and Europe Artisans”, in A New Account of East-India and Persia, in Eight Letters. Being Nine Years Travels, Begun 1672. And Finished 1681. […], London: […] R[obert] R[oberts] for Ri[chard] Chiswell, letter V (Travels into Persia), page 266:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| catch as catch can . See Usage notes. | canonical | lexicographic | |
| catching as catch can | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| catches as catch can | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic |
Relateds
have as have can · catch-as-catch-can · do as do can · get as get can · find as find can