play catch-up
idiom
: to try to reach the same position, score, etc., as a competitor after one has fallen behind
The team fell behind in the second inning and has had to play catch-up ever since.
The company has been trying to play a difficult game of catch-up ever since its competitor introduced the new product.
Examples of play catch-up in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Years of red tape, underinvestment in modernizing infrastructure, and climbing costs have left the country to play catch-up with other advanced economies.
—
Samuel Burke, Fortune Europe, 29 Oct. 2024
The cheaper cost of borrowing should propel more economically sensitive sectors to play catch-up as the economic expansion continues.
—Beth Kindig, Forbes, 10 Oct. 2024
Harden, entering his first full season with the Clippers, has fully integrated himself after last year’s early season trade, which initially left him to play catch-up in learning his role in the offense and creating chemistry.
—Anthony De Leon, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2024
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 33, Philadelphia Eagles 16: Baker Mayfield and the Bucs built a 21-0 lead early in the second quarter and the Eagles were forced to play catch-up the rest of the game.
—Jim Reineking, USA TODAY, 30 Sep. 2024
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Samuel Burke, Fortune Europe, 29 Oct. 2024
The cheaper cost of borrowing should propel more economically sensitive sectors to play catch-up as the economic expansion continues.
—Beth Kindig, Forbes, 10 Oct. 2024
Harden, entering his first full season with the Clippers, has fully integrated himself after last year’s early season trade, which initially left him to play catch-up in learning his role in the offense and creating chemistry.
—Anthony De Leon, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2024
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 33, Philadelphia Eagles 16: Baker Mayfield and the Bucs built a 21-0 lead early in the second quarter and the Eagles were forced to play catch-up the rest of the game.
—Jim Reineking, USA TODAY, 30 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for play catch-up
Dictionary Entries Near play catch-up
Cite this Entry
“Play catch-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/play%20catch-up. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
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