latch on to
idiom
variants
or latch onto
1
: to grab and hold (something)
He latched onto her arm and wouldn't let go.
—often used figurativelyThe news media has latched on to the scandal.
2
: to begin using, doing, or enjoying (something) in an enthusiastic way
Many companies have latched onto the trend of using consultants.
He latched onto music as a way to relax.
3
: to stay close to (someone or something)
Soon after she got to the party, some strange man latched on to her and wouldn't go away.
Examples of latch on to in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Some of the financial posters also used the social media platform Discord, which has chatrooms devoted to stock movements and cryptocurrency trading, where day traders can latch on to real or imagined events and try to push a given holding up or down before cashing out.
—
Joseph Menn, Washington Post, 9 June 2023
Nikki said that the dog market has been more visible and prevalent for investors to latch on to.
—Jonathan Keane, Forbes, 8 Aug. 2022
But if one rider gets injured, fans are left without a favorite to latch on to for the season.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 11 July 2022
The trees need to have been at least large enough for cicadas to latch on to their roots in 2004.
—London Gibson, The Indianapolis Star, 23 Apr. 2021
Sandra Oh), is what gives the viewer something to emotionally latch on to.
—Oliver Sava, Vulture, 26 Mar. 2021
The autumn fog brings airborne mold spores that latch on to the Sémillon grapes and break the fruits’ skin, beginning a process of dehydration that allows sugars to concentrate in the grapes.
—Rebecca Coffey, Discover Magazine, 26 Sep. 2011
The right would then latch on to general confusion about what’s actually in the infrastructure package and blame high gas prices on Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi’s radical green agenda, contributing to a blowout Congressional sweep for the GOP in 2022.
—Kate Aronoff, The New Republic, 12 Oct. 2021
Even when these ideas aren’t rooted in facts, many people still latch on to fringe theories — and, in some cases, deny contradictory evidence — due to powerful emotional, political and cultural influences.
—Jennifer Walter, Discover Magazine, 14 May 2021
Joseph Menn, Washington Post, 9 June 2023
Nikki said that the dog market has been more visible and prevalent for investors to latch on to.
—Jonathan Keane, Forbes, 8 Aug. 2022
But if one rider gets injured, fans are left without a favorite to latch on to for the season.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 11 July 2022
The trees need to have been at least large enough for cicadas to latch on to their roots in 2004.
—London Gibson, The Indianapolis Star, 23 Apr. 2021
Sandra Oh), is what gives the viewer something to emotionally latch on to.
—Oliver Sava, Vulture, 26 Mar. 2021
The autumn fog brings airborne mold spores that latch on to the Sémillon grapes and break the fruits’ skin, beginning a process of dehydration that allows sugars to concentrate in the grapes.
—Rebecca Coffey, Discover Magazine, 26 Sep. 2011
The right would then latch on to general confusion about what’s actually in the infrastructure package and blame high gas prices on Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi’s radical green agenda, contributing to a blowout Congressional sweep for the GOP in 2022.
—Kate Aronoff, The New Republic, 12 Oct. 2021
Even when these ideas aren’t rooted in facts, many people still latch on to fringe theories — and, in some cases, deny contradictory evidence — due to powerful emotional, political and cultural influences.
—Jennifer Walter, Discover Magazine, 14 May 2021
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'latch on to.' 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 to
Cite this Entry
“Latch on to.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/latch%20on%20to. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.
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