Comments by "Iazzaboyce" (@Iazzaboyce) on "Heroic man catches falling child with bare hands" video.

What you describe the man doing is called 'breaking fall' and is actually 'catching' and the correct action in the circumstances. It is physically impossible and dangerous to both persons to attempt to prevent the falling person from hitting the ground.
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@pvt.2426 OK - have it your way. Headline: 'Man Fumbles Falling Child In Heroic Rescue'
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@pvt.2426 The problem with your suggested headline is it doesn't describe how the man saved the falling child and journalism is all about using words to describe events. So, a person reading your headline might assume the man had placed a mattress beneath the child before the child fell. If we look at the Oxford Dictionary definition, there is no stipulation as to duration of a 'stop' or a 'hold' for the act to be a 'catch'. "catch (something/somebody) to stop and hold a moving object or person, especially in your hands" (Oxford Dictionary) So, unless you are able to find a rule somewhere which states 'a stop' or 'a hold' must last for a minimum period of time; you are clearly wrong in claiming the use of the word 'catches' in this context, is grammatically incorrect.
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@pvt.2426 Actually, you are completely wrong. Let's look at the Oxford Dictionary definition of the word 'hold'. "noun: hold; plural noun: holds" "an act or manner of grasping something; a grip." "he caught hold of her arm" There is no stipulation for duration; it simply defines the difference between 'touching' a person or object with the flat of the hand or body part or 'clenching' the hand or fingers onto a person or object to enact a 'hold' Your argument about sport is wholly invalid, because sport rules always state additional requirement to the definition of 'catch' 'hold' for the purpose of regulating the sport. These additional requirements in sports rules do not apply to the use of these words outside of those sports or (as in this case), 'journalism' and for you to argue otherwise is ludicrous.
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