catching upn.
/ˌkatʃɪŋ ˈʌp/, U.S. /ˌkɛtʃɪŋ ˈəp/, /ˌkætʃɪŋ ˈəp/ 1. Christian Church. The conveying of a person quickly or suddenly to heaven; spec. (in Millenarian theology) the transport of believers to heaven at the Second Coming of Christ; the rapture of the Church (cf. rapture n. 4b).Cf. to catch up 2b at catch v. Phrasal verbs 1.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the supernatural > deity > heaven > [noun] > conveyance to > at second coming of Christ
catching up1574
rapture of the Church (also saints)1768
1574 A. Golding tr. J. Calvin Serm. Epist. St. Paule to Galathians xxvi. f. 272v Our catching vp into heauen [Fr. rauis au ciel], that we might be neere vnto God.
1657 F. Roberts Mysterium & Medulla Bibliorum iv. i. 1239 The catching up of all the Elect, both Raysed, and Changed, to meet the Lord in the Air.
1662 H. Vane Two Treat. 80 The catching up of the Man-child unto God and to his Throne.
1851 Jrnl. Sacred Lit. Apr. 312 This catching up of Paul into heaven brings great comfort to the whole church of believers.
1875 Fraser's Mag. Jan. 102/2 The coming of the saints in the clouds, and the catching up of the Apostle and his followers..to meet them in the air.
1927 Grace & Truth Aug. 243/1 The fifth and present age will close with..the catching up of the Church (all believers) to be with Christ.
1972 G. E. Ladd Comm. Revelation John xii. 167 It is not at all clear that the birth of the Messiah..is meant to represent the birth of the historical Jesus, or that his catching up to heaven is his ascension.
1990 T. LaHaye How to study Bible Prophecy for Yourself vii. 73 The catching up or rapture of those alive at the time, and the literal coming of Christ to the earth.
2. The action or an act of picking up, lifting, or seizing a person or thing, esp. hastily. Now rare.Cf. to catch up 2a at catch v. Phrasal verbs 1.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > upward movement > raising > [noun] > taking or lifting up
upbearinga1340
upniming1340
lifting up1362
undertaking1382
uptaking1495
extolling1558
lift1570
catching upa1629
uplifting1650
tollation1688
gathering1691
punt1854
heft1881
bunk-up1919
a1629 W. Hinde Faithfull Remonstr. (1641) vii. 27 Such fishing for heires, such catching up of Wards, such pursuing of their profits.
1702 R. Stafford Gal. II Ver. XX 10 The catching up of ones self after a Fall, or..a correcting ones self after a Slip of the Tongue.
1725 R. Blackmore Treat. Spleen & Vapours 103 Involuntary Catching up of the Limbs, and a sudden striking or stretching them out.
1857 Househ. Words 7 Dec. 33/2 There was a tumult of..kissing and shaking of hands, catching up of children and setting of them down again.
1889 London Reader 27 July 319/2 A hasty catching up of tools, and a rush for the mouth of the mine.
1930 W. de la Mare in Virginia Q. Rev. Apr. 218 The mere catching up of her gloves, as with a whisk of her tailor-made skirt she turned aside.
3. The taking up or repetition of a word or phrase; an instance of this. Now somewhat rare.Cf. to catch up 3 at catch v. Phrasal verbs 1.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > repetition > [noun]
replication?c1400
repetition?a1425
repeatingc1443
renovelling1483
regressiona1500
iteration1530
repeat1556
ingemination1576
iteratinga1593
iterancea1616
redoublinga1665
restatement1790
troll1790
repeatal1822
catching up1847
rewording1849
re-enunciation1855
iterancy1889
1847 Hampshire Advertiser 23 Jan. 7/2 You would have been speedily wearied by..the constant catching up and repetition of words and even portions of sentences.
1860 Sc. Rev. Apr. 185 It was a catching up of the old miserable watch-word, ‘Our craft is in danger’.
1893 I. K. Funk et al. Standard Dict. Eng. Lang. I. at Catch With amusing effects produced by the catching up of one another's words by the respective singers.
1917 J. L. Hancock Stud. in Stichomythia iii. 35 An individual word or phrase may be seized upon and repeated... The catching up of word or phrase gives a crisp, snappy effect.
1974 P. Hall in Theatre Q. Nov. 7/1 One of the greatest influences on Pinter..is the early Eliot—particularly in the repeated phrase, the catching up of a phrase and repeating it over three sentences.
4. The drawing level with or reaching of a person who or thing which is ahead. Also (and earliest) in figurative contexts and extended use. Frequently with with.Cf. to catch up 5a at catch v. Phrasal verbs 1.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > rate of motion > [noun] > catching up or overtaking
overtaking1591
catching up1857
1857 Chicago Mag. Apr. 130/1 For the first few years of his manhood [he] had run a stern chase with life, gaining nothing, but rather losing ground. No hope remained of his ‘catching up’.
1905 Scotsman 11 Dec. 11/3 Dorflinger..and Dussot..were disqualified yesterday afternoon owing to the impossibility of their catching up with the leaders.
1942 19th Cent. Feb. 90 This rapid catching-up on Western ideas has been one cause of the present trouble; Indian thought came belatedly to the starting point but, once off, it advanced in seven-league boots.
1997 Times 22 Sept. 23/4 Each time public-sector pay is depressed for political reasons, the eventual catching-up with private-sector pay becomes an increasing embarrassment.
2009 G. Turner tr. M. Ajvaz Other City iv. 30 I ran..but..there was no hope of my catching up with the streetcar.
5.
a. The undertaking of an activity or dealing with a task for which one has not had time earlier; an instance of this.Cf. to catch up 7a at catch v. Phrasal verbs 1.
ΚΠ
1887 Engin. & Mining Jrnl. 29 Oct. 319/1 The..mines..are so far behind their contracts in deliveries that there is no prospect of their ‘catching up’.
1912 Black Diamond 26 Oct. 33/2 The next two weeks will see a catching up on a large part of this business, even if yard supplies are heavily depleted.
1965 N.Y. Times 16 Nov. 39/5 President Johnson, back in the White House after his recuperative stay..in Texas, did some catching up on paper work today.
1989 Country Life 13 July 156/1 If I leave home for a week in summer,..a great deal..clamours for attention on my return. Even with staff to help, there is a lot of catching up to be done.
2005 L. Felder Wake up or brake Up i. 37 A perfect weekend..would start with my catching up on some sleep on Saturday morning and then getting some exercise.
b. The action of meeting or talking with someone whom one has not seen or spoken to for some time, in order to find out what he or she has been doing.Cf. to catch up 7b at catch v. Phrasal verbs 1.
ΚΠ
1928 Stanford (Calif.) Daily 11 May 1/6 Nine classes, beginning with the class of '03, which will have twenty-five years of catching up to do, have planned reunion meetings.
1975 B. Grossman et al. Maude's Reunion 10 Phyllis: Invite me to dinner, and I'll stay over. Maude: Oh, wonderful, wonderful. We have so much catching up to do.
1995 Hamilton (Ont.) Spectator (Nexis) 18 July t4 After some warm-up stretches and a little catching up between members, the canoes hit the water.
2012 B. A. Chakara Rudo (Love) xii. 74 After some catching up, particularly about his retirement and their family, Freeman brought up the tension.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2018; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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n.1574