Make Your Point > Archived Issues > CATCH-AS-CATCH-CAN

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explore the archives: When the situation is chaotic and everyone's grabbing whatever they can however they can, it's catch-as-catch-can, a word we borrowed from wrestling. Speaking of wrestling, see if you can recall a verb that means "to wrestle with someone, or to try hard to deal with or understand something." (It kind of sounds like "grab.") make your point with... "CATCH-AS-CATCH-CAN" Catch-as-catch-can is a style of wrestling that basically allows the wrestlers to do anything to win. So in general usage, something catch-as-catch-can involves doing anything possible to get whatever you can. Pronunciation: CATCH as CATCH CAN Part of speech: Adjective. (Adjectives are describing words, like "large" or "late." They can be used in two ways: 1. Right before a noun, as in "a catch-as-catch-can thing." 2. After a linking verb, as in "It was catch-as-catch-can.") Other common forms: None, but some prefer to leave out the hyphens, especially after a linking verb: "It was catch as catch can." How to use it: Talk about a catch-as-catch-can approach or style; a catch-as-catch-can process or basis of operation; or a catch-as-catch-can fight, struggle, or competition. Or, place "catch-as-catch-can" after a linking verb: "getting these resources is catch-as-catch-can," "the job hunt remains catch-as-catch-can," "meals in their house were often catch-as-catch-can," "everything about this situation is catch-as-catch-can." You can keep close to the word's origin by talking about catch-as-catch-can wrestling between any two forces: "the catch-as-catch-can wrestling between supporters and opponents of this bill." The word works like a noun, too: say that a situation is a catch-as-catch-can. It even works like an adverb: "to live (or play, fight, eat, shop, etc.) catch-as-catch-can." examples: At Christmas one year, meals were catch-as-catch-can while all six of us grown daughters, plus boyfriends and friends, crowded our parents' house. For those relying on grocery coupons and markdowns, it's catch-as-catch-can--getting the savings means you eat fish when fish is on sale, whether you like it or not. study it now: Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "catch-as-catch-can" means when you can explain it without saying "having no organized plan" or "getting whatever, however." try it out: Think of a disorganized process. Fill in the blanks: "In (my/his/her/their/its) typical catch-as-catch-can approach, (somebody gets something done)." Example: "In their typical catch-as-catch-can approach, administrators send about one in a hundred dress code violators home to change clothes." before you review: Spend at least 20 seconds occupying your mind with the game below. Then try the review questions. Don’t go straight to the review now—let your working memory empty out first. This month, we're playing with the original and literal meanings of familiar words. I'll give you three words and their original or literal definitions, and you'll match them up. Easy! But then the following day, see if you can recall those old meanings. Hard! :) Our game has two purposes. One, we'll visit the interesting, thought-provoking old meanings of words. And two, we'll remind ourselves of a powerful learning strategy: delayed recalling. Let's play! First, try to recall from yesterday the literal meaning of "procrastination" and the original meanings of "agree" and "half." Answers appear at the bottom of this issue. Next, match these words to their original or literal definitions in the answer bank below: 1. "Heyday" originally meant _____ 2. "Insect" literally means _____ 3. "Elbow" literally means _____ Answer bank: A. "bend of the forearm." B. "wow!" C. "a divided body." review today's word: 1. One opposite of CATCH-AS-CATCH-CAN is A. REGULATED B. INFECTIOUS C. DECISIVE 2.  Many _____ have _____, but others work catch-as-catch-can. A. classroom teachers .. advanced degrees B. writers .. unpredictable schedules C. freelancers .. steady incomes Answers are below. a final word: To be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact Liesl at Liesl@HiloTutor.com Disclaimer: Word meanings presented here are expressed in plain language and are limited to common, useful applications only. Readers interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words are encouraged to check a dictionary. Likewise, word meanings, usage, and pronunciations are limited to American English; these elements may vary across world Englishes. Answers to game questions: 1. "Agree" originally meant "to please, or to be pleased." 2. "Half" originally meant "side." 3. "Procrastination" literally means "push forward to tomorrow." Answers to review questions: 1. A 2. C