Play catch - play fetch

[naweewra]

Hello,

I have heard both. Do they mean the same thing? Does it matter who or what is on the receiving end? "Play fetch" if you play with a dog and "play catch" if you play with kids/human?

Thank you.

Nawee

[Barb_D]

You play fetch with a dog.

[JMurray]

I have heard both. Do they mean the same thing? Does it matter who or what is on the receiving end? "Play fetch" if you play with a dog and "play catch" if you play with kids/human?

To fetch something means to go and get it and bring it back. This is how you might often play with a dog, by throwing a stick or ball and waiting for the dog to fetch it. If it's my dog it will run halfway towards the ball and then sit down, but that's another story.
When two people are throwing a ball back forth to each other, they are playing catch.

not a teacher

[BobK]

Both exist, but they're different games, whoever's involved. If you 'play catch' you throw something to someone, in the expectation that they will try to catch it. If you 'play fetch' you throw something away from someone or some animal, and expect them to go and get it - wherever it lands.

b