catch a bus — use public transport
collocationB1IELTS 5+neutralcore
to get on a bus in order to travel somewhere, usually as part of your daily routine or to reach a destination.
Say it like a native
Textbook I must board the omnibus at half past eight.
Native I've got to catch the bus at 8:30.
'Board the omnibus' is archaic; 'catch the bus' is everyday English.
Pattern: catch + a/the/my/your + bus
In use
- I have to catch the bus at 8 a.m. or I'll be late for work.daily life
- During the week, I usually catch a bus to university because it's faster than driving.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ I catched the bus this morning.
✓ I caught the bus this morning.
Irregular past tense — 'caught', not 'catched'.
Common collocations
catch + transport— the bus, the 8:15, a bus into town, the last bus
Don't confuse it
'Take a bus' can mean the whole journey, but 'catch a bus' focuses on getting on the bus in time.