Playing catch-up

Question

The competition will be playing catch-up for the rest of the season.Could you please explain to me what "catch-up" means in this context?As to dictionary, it means "increase in amount or quality" but it doesn't fit into this context.

Avangi · Accepted Answer

Hi, Gary,
In this case it simply means you're behind, desperately trying to catch up; and it looks like that's where you're going to stay for the rest of the season. But you'll keep trying.

"Playing" is part of the expression: "playing catch-up."

Being behind is the name of the game, so to speak.

User_gary · Answer

Thanks a lot Avangi.

But really I'm too stupid to make out what you mean from the outset. First of all, I wonder what you mean by "you're behind" in the first para.

Avangi · Answer

We appreciate your candor.

The expression implies an athletic or sports contest between two (or more) teams. (I mistakenly assumed that was made clear by the context.) The other team is winning. You're trying to catch up to them.

The expression may also be used figuratively. Perhaps you always seem to be behind in your work, or in paying your bills.

When you're always behind, it seems like that becomes the main feature of the game (from your point of view).

The winners laugh and tell jokes; the losers say, "Deal, dammit, deal!" (poker)

P.S. I got the impression from some of your earlier posts that you are into sports.

User_gary · Answer

Now I got it. Again thanks for your useful posts, Avangi.

No, I'm not into any kind of sports. Just into reading sports' articles now.

Playing catch-up

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