Does anyone know what the phrase "Catch as catch can" means?
2007-01-03 09:23:34 · 8 answers · asked by Robyn M 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
It means to use whatever means necessary to accomplish something.
Breaking it down:
Catch (do or achieve something) as catch (as in the act of catching [achieving] used as a subject/noun) can (or as the subject knows or is able to do).
Using replacment words:
"Accomplish as Robyn's abilities can."
BONUS: "Stupid is as stupid does" means "A person is only as stupid as the things they do."
2007-01-03 09:30:46 · answer #1 · answered by Mickey Mouse Spears 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Just means you do something with whatever means are available at the time.
So.. if dinner was "catch as catch can" It would be prepared using whatever ingredients you had on hand, or were easy to come by.
2007-01-03 09:28:14 · answer #2 · answered by belmyst 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
adj.
Using or making do with whatever means are available; irregular: made a catch-as-catch-can living doing odd jobs.
adv.
However or by whatever means possible: “Reading was learned catch-as-catch-can, while reindeer farming was learned deeply and thoroughly through the daily rigors of survival” (Bunny McBride).
2007-01-03 09:27:22 · answer #3 · answered by Monkeyman 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yeah, it's sorta like, "Make hay while the sun is shining." It means, wile you're able to get it, grab as much as you can!
2007-01-03 09:30:47 · answer #4 · answered by rustyreacharound 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I never heard that **** in my life. It sounds gay to me. I hope that whoever coined that phrase had a violent and painful death.
2007-01-03 09:28:25 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
it means to get while the getting is good
2007-01-03 09:25:56 · answer #6 · answered by Scottyboy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"This means that people should try to get something any way they can."
2007-01-03 09:26:03 · answer #7 · answered by ? 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
maybe its like a "stupid is as stupid does" sort of thing?
2007-01-03 09:26:10 · answer #8 · answered by Mindless 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋