Google
English-Test.net
Find penpals and make new friends today!
 
to raise; to push; to urge; to lift
conjure
style
fax
boost
Free TOEIC test: Free word games online: Noun Verb Game Answer
Dictionaries   TOEIC   TOEFL   GMAT   SAT   GRE   MCAT   PCAT   ASVAB   Interviews
Tests   Grammar   Articles   Stories   Shop   Services   Lesson Plans   Community
Home   Top 100   Start your FREE email English course now!   Audio Lessons
 
Username
Password
 Remember me? 
Search   FAQ   Memberlist   Profile   Private messages   Register   Log in 

Phrase: "Catch up with the watchrooms."



 
ESL/EFL Worksheets and Handouts for Students Printable, photocopiable, clearly structured
Designed for teachers and individual learners
For use in a classroom, at home, on your PC
ESL Forums | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
Ever: Less than half; More than half; Most people | "Went to war" vs "Went to a war"
Message Author
Phrase: "Catch up with the watchrooms." Thu Sep 06, 2007 10:53 am  Phrase: "Catch up with the watchrooms."		  
Hi

Could you please tell me if "catch up" in the following situation works?

Quote:
There is only one washroom in the hostel and six teachers. Each one of them tries to get up the earliest in the morning to catch up with the washroom.

Tom
Tom
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 30 May 2006
Posts: 1985
Phrase: "Catch up with the watchrooms." Thu Sep 06, 2007 11:25 am  Phrase: "Catch up with the watchrooms."		  
Having to catch up with the washroom suggests the washroom is running and you have to run faster than it so as to draw level with or overtake it. Laughing (Thanks, Tom, for bringing a smile to my morning!)

My suggestion: ... in order to be the first to use the bathroom (very prosaic, I know, but it's the best I can come up with right now).
Conchita
Language Coach


Joined: 26 Dec 2005
Posts: 2704
Location: Madrid, Spain
English grammar exercises — improve your English knowledge and vocabulary skillsAre you a native speaker of English? Then you should read this!Learn how to explore English words! Subscribe to free email English courseLearn to use the present simple with the help of this short story
Phrase: "Catch up with the watchrooms." Thu Sep 06, 2007 14:44 pm  Phrase: "Catch up with the watchrooms."		  
Hi Tom

The use of 'catch up' in your sentence brought a smile to my face too -- for exactly the same reason. Laughing

I'm curious: What definition of 'catch up' do you have that led you to believe you could use 'catch up' in your sentence?
.
_________________
Amy
.
ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English
Yankee
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 7858
Location: USA
Phrase: "Catch up with the watchrooms." Thu Sep 06, 2007 15:38 pm  Phrase: "Catch up with the watchrooms."		  
Yankee wrote:
Hi Tom

The use of 'catch up' in your sentence brought a smile to my face too -- for exactly the same reason. Laughing

.

Thank you ladies

So, Amy, could you please think of some alternative like Conchita to say what I wanted to say in a better way?

Tom
Tom
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 30 May 2006
Posts: 1985
Display posts from previous:   
Ever: Less than half; More than half; Most people | "Went to war" vs "Went to a war"
ESL Forums | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms Phrase: "Catch up with the watchrooms." All times are GMT + 2 Hours
Page 1 of 1
Latest topics on ESL EFL Forums
The use of "tell on" • Use of 'As Is' (..., choose a technique that allows you to measure it 'as is') • Expression: "She was walking in bare feet." • The use of commas in formal (informal) letters • Usage of expressions: hold up; chew through • usage of "lack", "lacking" • it's beginning to dawn on me • Phrase: "The early mornings" • Expression: "Let's go a lot of shopping." • Expression: "Pass it down." • Expression: "One Britain pound is equal to 150 Pakistani rupees." • Expression: "Please don't shake your leg." • meaning of there is so a tooth fairy • Expression: "Please see below" • Everyday conversation with colleage at office? • How about this sentence? (By 1996, the United States population exceeded...) • Usage of 'at her side' (...her bodyguards at her side, Mobius behind her) • "those" or "the ones"? • Phrase: "Catch up with the watchrooms."

Discover English-test.net
Meaning of "the desired aim" • Provocative vs. provoking • Differences between 'agree on', 'agree with' and 'agree to' • in that, where, than or that? • MCAT vocab test: Vocabulary Website: English Nouns Adjectives Verbs • MCAT vocabulary test: Word find games: Free Online Noun Adjective Verb Game • Define gene, transparent, heterotroph, insomniac, biochemistry, adenylate cyclase, vascularize • Pimsleur English for Vietnamese Speakers: Pimsleur English as a Foreign Language • Speaking practice: Behaviour Guidline

 
 You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


Provided by phpBB ©2001-2008 phpBB Group
Subscribe to FREE email English course written by Alan Townend
First name E-mail