gotcha

• gotchya, gottcha, gotchu

From got +‎ -cha.

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈɡɑt͡ʃə/
  • Homophone: gacha
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈɡɒt͡ʃə/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɒtʃə

gotcha (colloquial)

1. Pronunciation spelling of got you.

   I gotcha now, ya little twerp.

   Yeah, I gotcha. Good thinkin'!

gotcha (colloquial)

1. I got you covered, I got your back (said by a speaker who has an advantage or responsibility over someone).

   Gotcha! Go on in...

2. I caught you (as when successfully bringing someone to reckoning or effecting some form of retribution).

   Gotcha! And don't ever do that to me again.

3. I got you by surprise (indicating a successful trick or prank).

   Gotcha! You never noticed the whoopie cushion!

4. I understand you or what you said.

   Gotcha! You just want me to stay here for now.

• getcha

gotcha (plural gotchas) (colloquial)

1. A potential problem or source of trouble.

   Review the work thoroughly and make sure there are no gotchas.

   1. (computing) A feature of a system or a program that works in the way it is documented but is counter-intuitive and almost invites mistake or non-function.
2. An instance of publicly tricking someone or exposing them to ridicule, especially by means of an elaborate deception.

   gotcha question

   They change the number at random intervals and if you miss a sign. What a gotcha!

3. An attempt to disprove or refute someone's argument, usually (but not necessarily) in a deceptive or disingenuous way.

   You're asking me a ridiculous hypothetical question that no one can reasonably answer. You need to stop with your gotchas.

   The gotcha in your second paragraph needs more developing. You don't have enough evidence that the author is contradicting himself.

4. An instance of accomplishing a tricky idea or overcoming a difficult obstacle.

   Now here's another few gotchas that you can do to implement it.

   Wireless was the first gotcha when installing the distro.

• game of gotcha
• gotcha journalism

• gotta
• letcha
• letchya
• user-friendly

• Eric Partridge (2005) “gotcha!”, in Tom Dalzell and Terry Victor, editors, The New Partridge Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English, volumes 1 (A–I), London, New York, N.Y.: Routledge, →ISBN, page 904.