latch on
phrasal verb
latched on; latching on; latches on
British, informal
: to begin to understand something
What he was saying was complicated, so it took me a while to latch on.
Examples of latch on in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The segment of chromosome 9 latched on to 22 in such a way that a gene carried along for the ride was set in overdrive, producing an enzyme that stimulated uncontrolled cell growth in the bone marrow.
—
WIRED, 4 Sep. 2023
The scratch-resistant pan is finished off with three layers of nonstick coating, ensuring food doesn’t latch on and burn while cooking.
—Toni Sutton, Peoplemag, 29 Aug. 2023
Beginning in 1981, the band tore up punk clubs and gallery spaces before latching on with fellow hardcore acts outside New England, such as Washington, D.C.’s Minor Threat and Bad Brains and New York’s Agnostic Front.
—James Sullivan, BostonGlobe.com, 11 Sep. 2023
Country singers like Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson and Zac Brown latched on to his seaside-and-booze themes and acknowledged his influence by sharing duets with him.
—Jon Pareles, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2023
Rodgers, who struggled mightily after Green Bay drafted him in 2021, was waived by Houston in July and didn't make the Colts after latching on in August.
—Jr Radcliffe, Journal Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2023
Panama is part of a growing list of countries and communities around the world latching on to the Rights of Nature movement, which seeks to grant wildlife a similar legal status to that of individuals and companies.
—Teresa Tomassoni, Washington Post, 26 Aug. 2023
Tuck pants or long-sleeve bottoms into your socks/shoes to prevent ticks from latching on and having direct access to your skin.
Treat your clothing and outdoor gear with products that contain 0.5% permethrin.
—Alyssa Hui, Verywell Health, 16 July 2023
The combination of peppermint oil and clove extract creates a refreshing scent that dogs find pleasant while deterring fleas and ticks from latching on.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 27 June 2023
See More
WIRED, 4 Sep. 2023
The scratch-resistant pan is finished off with three layers of nonstick coating, ensuring food doesn’t latch on and burn while cooking.
—Toni Sutton, Peoplemag, 29 Aug. 2023
Beginning in 1981, the band tore up punk clubs and gallery spaces before latching on with fellow hardcore acts outside New England, such as Washington, D.C.’s Minor Threat and Bad Brains and New York’s Agnostic Front.
—James Sullivan, BostonGlobe.com, 11 Sep. 2023
Country singers like Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson and Zac Brown latched on to his seaside-and-booze themes and acknowledged his influence by sharing duets with him.
—Jon Pareles, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2023
Rodgers, who struggled mightily after Green Bay drafted him in 2021, was waived by Houston in July and didn't make the Colts after latching on in August.
—Jr Radcliffe, Journal Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2023
Panama is part of a growing list of countries and communities around the world latching on to the Rights of Nature movement, which seeks to grant wildlife a similar legal status to that of individuals and companies.
—Teresa Tomassoni, Washington Post, 26 Aug. 2023
Tuck pants or long-sleeve bottoms into your socks/shoes to prevent ticks from latching on and having direct access to your skin.
Treat your clothing and outdoor gear with products that contain 0.5% permethrin.
—Alyssa Hui, Verywell Health, 16 July 2023
The combination of peppermint oil and clove extract creates a refreshing scent that dogs find pleasant while deterring fleas and ticks from latching on.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 27 June 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'latch on.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near latch on
Cite this Entry
“Latch on.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/latch%20on. Accessed 27 Sep. 2023.
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