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catch on — to become popular or fashionable; to start to understand something

Part of speech: VERB

Definition: to become popular or fashionable; to start to understand something

Pronunciation (IPA): /kætʃ ɑːn/

Korean meaning: 인기를 끌다, 유행하다; 이해하기 시작하다

Korean pronunciation: **캐**치 온

Example Sentences

  • My grandmother still hasn't caught on to using smartphones, but she's getting there!
  • The coffee shop's 'pay it forward' system really caught on in our neighborhood.
  • It took me a while to catch on that my coworkers were planning a surprise party.

catch on

VERB

//kætʃ ɑːn//

to become popular or fashionable; to start to understand something

catch on concept
💡 Concept

The new dance move started to catch on with everyone at the party.

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/kætʃ ɑːn/
🇬🇧 UK/kætʃ ɒn/

🌳Etymology

Rootcatch
Suffix-on

Origin

From Middle English 'cacchen' (to chase, capture) combined with the adverb 'on'. The word 'catch' has Old Norse roots through Norman French, while 'on' is a Germanic preposition meaning 'upon' or 'in contact with'.

🎵Rhyme

batch onmatch onpatch on
batch on
match on
patch on

🔗Collocations

quickly catch on
catch on to something
never catch on
catch on fast
starting to catch on
catch on among

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

“My grandmother still hasn't caught on to using smartphones, but she's getting there!”

“The coffee shop's 'pay it forward' system really caught on in our neighborhood.”

“It took me a while to catch on that my coworkers were planning a surprise party.”

😄 Fun example

“His terrible jokes never seem to catch on, but he keeps trying anyway.”

📚Related Words

Synonyms

become populartake offgain tractionunderstandcomprehend

Antonyms

failflopmisunderstand

Related

catch uppick uptrendviralbreakthrough

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