cotton on
phr. v.. C1 Advanced Oxford
phr. v.. to finally understand something that was not obvious at first.
phr. v.. to begin to understand or realize a fact, situation, or hidden meaning; often implies a delayed realization.
He finally cottoned on to the joke.
It took a few minutes for the audience to cotton on to the fact that the performance was a prank.
The authorities were slow to cotton on to the sophisticated tax evasion scheme being operated by the offshore firm.
- Particles
- on
- Separability
- inseparable
- Pattern
- cotton + on + (to) + object
Usage
usually followed by the preposition 'to' and an object.
Teaching tip
this is a British English phrasal verb; contrast it with 'catch on' which can mean both 'to understand' and 'to become popular'.
Pitfall
She cottoned on the secret.She cottoned on to the secret.the preposition 'to' is required between the phrasal verb and the object.