“So far I've just been getting caught up.”

English Lesson: So far I've just been getting caught up.

You took off work for 6 weeks for maternity leave. You returned to work this week, and now you're trying to figure out what you're supposed to work on. A coworker who you see in the elevator asks you if you've settled back in yet. This is how you reply.

So far I've just been getting caught up.

Want Video and Sound? Follow us on YouTube

so far

"So far" means "until now". You use "so far" when you are comparing what has already happened with what is going to or might happen. For example:

We've made over fifteen million dollars so far this year.

This means that they have made fifteen million dollars already this year, but they will make more before the end of the year.

I started playing the guitar last year. I haven't performed publicly so far, but I think I'll be ready soon.

This means that the speaker has never performed guitar publicly yet, but might perform in the future.

get caught up

Imagine that work or school are like a race. If you stop to take a rest, everyone will keep running ahead, and if you want to continue you'll have to run extra hard to reach where they are. In a race, to "catch up" to someone means to reach where they are after starting out behind them.

At work, when you start a new job or come back after a vacation, you have to "get caught up". This means to work hard so that you can figure out what's happening and get ready to work.