noun
catch
A hidden difficulty in something apparently favorable.
The offer looks generous, but there is a catch.
Etymology
Old French cachier connected the word with pursuit and capture. A hidden catch figuratively traps or stops someone who accepts an apparently attractive arrangement without noticing its difficulty.
More examples
- What is the catch in this supposedly free service?
- She read the fine print to find the catch.
- One catch was the expensive cancellation fee.
Forms
catch · catches
Similar words
- drawback
- A disadvantage that need not be hidden or unexpected.
- snag
- A practical obstacle rather than necessarily a hidden condition.