English verb: catch on | |||
1. | catch on (cognition) understand, usually after some initial difficulty | ||
Samples | She didn't know what her classmates were plotting but finally caught on. | ||
Synonyms | cotton on, get it, get onto, get wise, latch on, tumble, twig | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s. Somebody ----s PP | ||
Broader (hypernym) | apprehend, compass, comprehend, dig, get the picture, grasp, grok, savvy | ||
2. | catch on (change) become popular | ||
Samples | This fashion caught on in Paris. | ||
Pattern of use | Something ----s. Something is ----ing PP | ||
Broader (hypernym) | change | ||