Phrasal verb
latch on
Definition
phrasal verb. to grab or attach yourself to something suddenly — often used for physical contact or adopting an idea quickly.
phrasal verb. to grasp or fasten onto something suddenly; can also mean to adopt an idea or attitude eagerly; marked informal register.
Examples
“He latched on to the ladder to climb up.”
“The child latched on to her mother's hand when she saw the dog.”
“The investor latched on to the opportunity, seeing potential others missed.”
Examples
simple
“He latched on to the ladder to climb up.”
contextual
“The child latched on to her mother's hand when she saw the dog.”
complex
“The investor latched on to the opportunity, seeing potential others missed.”
Usage
typically followed by a direct object — the thing being grabbed or the idea being adopted.
Teaching tip
contrast with 'grab onto' (more common) and 'cling to' (more emotional); note the figurative use in business or personal development contexts.
Pitfall
He latched on the ladder.
He latched on to the ladder.
'to' is required after 'on' when indicating physical attachment or adoption of an idea.
Phrasal verb
Particles
on
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
latch + on + to + object
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/latch-on