catching on you

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "catching on you" is not correct in standard written English.
It seems to be a misunderstanding of the expression "catching on" which means to understand or become popular, but it does not work with "on you." Example: "I hope the new trend is catching on with you."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Make your very own Jabba the Hut This 'YouTube' thing is really catching on You Make It You: First Zune 2 ad Slingbox ads on the way?

TechCrunch

When it appears that your dog is catching on, you can start winding down the training process.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

This trend only seems to be catching on, as you'll know from the endless reports of Gen-Z (16 to 24-year-olds) supposedly swapping Stella for sobriety.

Vice

This trend only seems to be catching on, as you'll know from the endless reports of Gen-Z (16- to- 24-year-olds) supposedly swapping Stella Artois for sobriety.

Vice

If you think that you've been spotted, quickly shine the light into the eyes of the person that is catching on to you and then make a stealthy getaway while they are blinded.

WikiHow

This kind of corporate philanthropy, which marries good works with a clever way of sorting and motivating staff, is undoubtedly catching on.When you press a CEO for details of a company's CSR policies, and for their business rationale, you find that every firm believes that its CSR actions fall in the win-win box.

The Economist

With the current rise of the Bison and Buffalo population in America, the Bison trend will be catching on sooner than you think.

Huffington Post

The idea that politics should be something that you do, not something that is done to you, is catching on fast, helped by the Scottish example of near-total political engagement.

Independent

You're catching on!

BBC

You're catching on, Neil!

BBC

But now it is catching on elsewhere.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To indicate that someone is beginning to understand something, use "catching on" in reference to the subject, not directing it at a person with "you". For example, "He is finally catching on."

Common error

Avoid using "catching on you" because "catching on" doesn't take a direct object in that manner. Instead, consider rephrasing to express the intended meaning clearly. For instance, use "catching on with you" if you mean something is becoming popular with someone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "catching on you" is intended as a phrasal verb construction, but it's grammatically incorrect. The phrasal verb "catch on" typically functions intransitively or requires a preposition like to or with to connect to an object. Ludwig AI highlights this grammatical issue.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "catching on you" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. The correct usage is simply "catching on" when describing a trend becoming popular or someone starting to understand something. Although the intent is often to express understanding or increasing popularity with someone, the proper phrasing requires adjustments, such as "catching on with you" or "you are catching on". Using alternatives like "becoming popular with you" or "you are understanding" ensures clarity and grammatical accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

becoming popular with you

Focuses on the aspect of popularity with a specific person.

you are understanding

Highlights the comprehension aspect, removing the idiomatic nature.

you're starting to understand

Emphasizes the beginning of understanding.

you are wising up

Implies becoming aware of something previously unknown, often negative.

you are figuring it out

Focuses on the process of solving a problem.

you are cottoning on

A British English alternative for understanding.

you are catching wise

An informal way of saying someone is becoming aware.

you are seeing through it

Suggests detecting deception or a hidden motive.

you're getting the hang of it

Focuses on learning a skill or task.

you are latching on

Emphasizes grasping or adopting an idea or trend, but could be negatively perceived.

FAQs

Is it grammatically correct to say "catching on you"?

No, "catching on you" is not grammatically correct in standard English. The correct usage is "catching on" to describe something becoming popular or understood. If referring to a person's understanding, it's better to say, "you are catching on".

What does "catching on" mean?

"Catching on" means becoming popular or widely accepted. It can also mean starting to understand something. For example, "The new fashion trend is catching on quickly" or "She is catching on to the math concepts".

How can I use "catching on" in a sentence correctly?

Use "catching on" to describe a trend or idea gaining popularity: "Virtual reality is catching on in the gaming industry." Or, to indicate someone is starting to understand something: "He is finally catching on to the rules".

What are some alternatives to "catching on"?

Alternatives to "catching on" include "gaining popularity", "becoming popular", or "becoming understood", depending on the context. For example, "The concept of remote work is gaining popularity".