catch someone's attention — attract notice
collocationB1IELTS 5+neutralcommon
to make someone notice you or something, often because it is interesting or unusual
Say it like a native
Textbook I endeavoured to secure the waiter's perceptual notice.
Native I tried to catch the waiter's attention.
'Secure perceptual notice' is bizarrely formal; 'catch the waiter's attention' is natural.
Pattern: catch + someone's + attention
In use
- The bright colors of the poster caught my attention as soon as I walked into the room.daily life
- During my presentation, I used a surprising fact at the beginning to catch the audience's attention.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ I tried to catch attention of the waiter.
✓ I tried to catch the waiter's attention.
Use the possessive — 'catch someone's attention'.
Common collocations
catch someone's attention— the waiter's, her, everyone's, try to
Don't confuse it
Not the same as 'pay attention,' which means to focus on something.