or catch me at it! phr. (colloquial).—An intimation that the person speaking will not do such and such a thing. An analogous phrase is DON’T YOU WISH YOU MAY GET IT!
1780. HANNAH COWLEY, The Belle’s Stratagem, Act iii., Sc. 2. First Gent. May I be a bottle, and an empty bottle, if you CATCH ME at that!——Why, I am going to the masquerade.
1830. GALT, Lawrie Todd, V., iv. (1849), 207. CATCH ME again at such costly daffin.
1830. R. B. PEAKE, Court and City, I., 1. Sir Har. Satisfaction! catch me at that!
1846. DICKENS, Dombey and Son, I., p. 112, col. 3. ‘You have a committee to-day at three, you know.’ ‘And one at three, three-quarters,’ added Mr. Dombey, ‘CATCH YOU at forgetting anything!’ exclaimed Carker.
