The cat pounced on the bird, but missed.

Meaning: The cat tried to catch the bird by jumping suddenly, but it didn't succeed.

Choice of Words: Pounced means to jump suddenly or forcefully. Missed means to fail to hit, catch, or achieve something.

Alternative Expressions

The cat leaped at the bird, but missed.

Meaning: This sentence tells us that the cat tried to catch the bird, but didn't succeed.

Choice of Words: Leaped means to jump or move quickly. At means in the direction of. But means that something different happened than what was expected. Missed means to not hit or catch something. When you put them together, "The cat leaped at the bird, but missed" means that the cat tried to catch the bird, but didn't.

The cat sprang towards the bird, but failed to catch it.

Meaning: This sentence also tells us that the cat tried to catch the bird, but didn't succeed.

Choice of Words: Sprang means to jump or move quickly. Towards means in the direction of. But means that something different happened than what was expected. Failed means to not succeed. Catch means to grab or hold something. When you put them together, "The cat sprang towards the bird, but failed to catch it" means that the cat tried to catch the bird, but didn't.

The cat lunged at the bird, but it got away.

Meaning: This sentence tells us that the cat tried to catch the bird, but the bird was able to get away.

Choice of Words: Lunged means to move forward quickly and suddenly. At means in the direction of. But means that something different happened than what was expected. Got away means to escape or avoid being caught. When you put them together, "The cat lunged at the bird, but it got away" means that the cat tried to catch the bird, but the bird escaped.

Related Expressions