to latch on

Examples

• All

• It's when a certain trend kicks off and then other people just latch on to that trend, right?

• After struggling with the concept for a while, I finally latched on to the idea of renewable energy.

• But because a lot of us, when we experience that love, we want to latch on as quickly as possible.

• And so I, I, you know, I latched on to this and I saw this as being really, really central.

• I feel like some people would really latch on to that and it would be a way different moment.

• And each of us latches on to different stuff about the world that moves us in different ways.

• It's what time is filled by that allows us to have new new memories to latch on to and new things to pay attention to.

  Gregory B. Sadler - That Philosophy Guy

• I think we as a culture latched on to them because we're eager to have simple theories to explain who we are, especially when it comes to gender.

• It would be true to say that once Warren latches on to an idea, that he's not easily going to let it go.

  American Animals (2018)

• The point Tapper was making was that the media is shallow and likes to latch on to "theme" type stories, while disregarding issues of greater substance.

  Blog text (27)

Synonyms

G

to get it

vsto latch on

• Informal

877 1.1

To understand something after someone explains it

can also involve later choosing to accept or adopt the idea

P

to pick up on

vsto latch on

142 3.9

To notice something that is not obvious

focuses more on later full understanding and often on adopting the idea

D

to dawn on

vsto latch on

49 3.7

An idea or fact suddenly becomes clear to someone

includes both sudden clarity and the later choice to adopt it

C

to catch on

vsto latch on

37 3.9

To begin to understand something after a while

also covers adopting or taking up the idea after understanding

G

to get a clue

vsto latch on

• Informal

25 7.8

Start to understand what is happening or what to do

adds the idea of choosing to accept or adopt the notion afterward

S

to seize on

vsto latch on

19 5.3

To quickly use an idea or chance to get an advantage

is more about first understanding and then possibly accepting the idea

L

to latch onto

vsto latch on

• Informal

11 4.9

To become very interested in something and follow it closely

focuses more on first understanding before later adopting the idea

G

to get wise

vsto latch on

7 7.0

To understand someone tricked you and become more careful

is broader because it can include then adopting the discovered idea

T

to tumble

vsto latch on

• UK

4 7.4

To finally understand something after some confusion

also implies moving from understanding to accepting or using the idea

G

to get onto

vsto latch on

• Informal

1 5.1

Start to understand something after finding it confusing

adds the sense of then accepting or using the idea

F

to fasten on

vsto latch on

1 6.5

To quickly accept an idea and focus on it

emphasizes earlier understanding first, not just eagerness to adopt the idea

C

to cotton on

vsto latch on

• UK

1 7.5

Start to understand something after not understanding it

often leads to adopting the idea rather than just noticing it

T

to twig

vsto latch on

• Slang

1 8.9

To suddenly understand something you did not notice before

can be sudden too but may also include later acceptance of the idea

D

to dawn on someone

vsto latch on

4.4

An idea becomes clear to someone, often suddenly

covers sudden realization and may also imply later taking the idea on

C

to cop on

vsto latch on

• UK

9.9

Begin to understand something you missed before

often moves beyond awareness to actually taking up the idea

How Quickly

to grasp

146 4.1

to understand

∞ 1.0

to latch on

• Informal

4 4.9

to catch on

37 3.9

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology