Phrasal verb
latch on to
Definition
phrasal verb. to grab or attach yourself to something, often in a sudden or eager way.
phrasal verb. to seize or grasp something suddenly or eagerly; often used metaphorically to describe attaching oneself to an idea, opportunity, or person. The phrasal verb is separable, though 'on to' is typically kept together in modern usage.
Examples
“He latched on to the idea immediately.”
“The child latched on to the toy as soon as it was handed to her.”
“The company latched on to the new market trend, leading to rapid growth.”
Examples
simple
“He latched on to the idea immediately.”
contextual
“The child latched on to the toy as soon as it was handed to her.”
complex
“The company latched on to the new market trend, leading to rapid growth.”
Usage
typically followed by a direct object — the thing being grabbed or attached to.
Teaching tip
contrast with 'grab' (more physical) and 'cling to' (more emotional); 'latch on to' implies suddenness and often metaphorical attachment.
Pitfall
She latched on the opportunity.
She latched on to the opportunity.
'to' is required after 'on' in this phrasal verb; omitting it creates a grammatical error.
Phrasal verb
Particles
on to
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
latch + on + to + object
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/latch-on-to