cotton on to
The phrase "cotton on to" is primarily used in British English to describe the process of gradually understanding or realizing something.
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Definition
B2General
(informal, british)To begin to understand or realize something, often gradually or without being explicitly told.
Example
- She had already cottoned on to the fact that the nanny was not all she appeared to be.
- It wasn't until he started laughing that they cottoned on!
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "cotton on to":
get on tocatch onget to grips withpick up onget onwrap one's head aroundcome to gripsclue up