ENGLISH
REFERENCE

latch on to

phr. v..
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford Informal

phr. v.. to grab or attach yourself to something, often in a sudden or eager way.

phr. v.. 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.


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.

Particles
on to
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
latch + on + to + object
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.

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