make someone hard to catch

English

Verb

make someone hard to catch (third-person singular simple present makes someone hard to catch, present participle making someone hard to catch, simple past and past participle made someone hard to catch)

1. (colloquial, dated) To get rid of someone, especially in an unpleasant way.
   • 1906, Coopers International Journal, volumes 15-16, page 156:

     I hope that we have no such men in Local No. 163. If we have, we will make them hard to catch when we find them out.

   • 1906, McClure's Magazine, volume 26, page 419:

     Then the boss stuck up a sign that said: / Public Water-hole. Water Free. / "Now you old skin," says he to Texas Pete, "charge all you want to on your own property. But if I ever hear of your layin' claim to this other hole, I'll sure make you hard to catch."

   • 1915, Peter B. Kyne, The Parson of Panamint:

     She says he understands her; an' first thing her an' Crabapple gets to arguin' religion, an' Liz, she warns the Crabapple if he ever gets drunk round the parson, an' she gets well an' finds it out, she'll shore make him hard to catch.

   • 1920, Dane Coolidge, Wunpost, page 28:

     I'm going to be there, myself, and I'm going to borrow that pistol that you stuck in my ribs the other night; and the first yap that touches a corner or crosses my line I'll make him hard to catch.

   • 1924, Peter Bernard Kyne, The Enchanted Hill, page 288:

     But there'll be four of us to take care of Purdy's men before you show up in Arguello. We'll make them hard to catch.