Definition of catch up

The expression "catch up" originated in the late 19th century in the context of horse racing. In this context, it referred to the action of overtaking other horses and reaching the same position on the racetrack as them. Specifically, the term was used to describe a horse's effort to "catch up" to the group of horses it was initially trailing behind. The usage of "catch up" in reference to catching up on missed tasks or information can be traced back to the early 20th century. Initially, it was commonly used in the context of business and academia, as companies and students struggled to make up ground after falling behind on deadlines or assignments. By the mid-20th century, "catch up" had become a widely used idiom in colloquial speech, and today it is a part of everyday English expression.