English

Verb

catch it ‎(third-person singular simple present catches it, present participle catching it, simple past and past participle caught it)

1. Used other than as an idiom: see catch,‎ it.
2. (idiomatic) be severely reprimanded, punished, or beaten
   • 1860, George Eliot , The Mill on the Floss

     "You'll catch it, you know," said Tom, nodding his head in an admonitory manner, and hesitating a little as he took the scissors.

   • a. 1887, George Bernard Shaw, An Unsocial Socialist

     If they beat us, we shall catch it, and serve us right.

   • 2003, Sid Fleischman, The Whipping Boy, page 39

     I'll catch it for your mischief in running away. And I'll catch it again when the tutor claps eyes on the handwriting.

Synonyms

• cop it
• catch ****
• get it