Phrasal Verbs

catch on (2)

This page is about the phrasal verb catch on (2)

Meaning

If you catch on, you suddenly understand something that you couldn't understand at first.

Synonym

cotton on (informal), twig (informal)

For example

  • catch on Not all of my students understood the idea at first, but before long they all caught on.

  • catch on Most scientists now accept that global warming is really happening, but it took a while for a lot of them to catch on.

Quick Quiz

It took a while for Sandra to catch on, but at last she

a. got the bus

b. got the idea

c. got the money
a) got the bus b) got the idea c) got the money

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1000 Phrasal Verbs in Context

Contributor: Matt Errey