to catch on

USAGE SUMMARY

"to catch on" is correct and usable in written English.
It typically means to understand something quickly or to become popular or fashionable. For example: After a few tries, he finally caught on to the new method.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"I think it's going to catch on," said Ray McKinnon.

Stanford University

And you have to catch on fast, and it's subtle.

Princeton University

Why do you think the show failed to catch on?

The New York Times

No wonder this stuff has been slow to catch on!

The New York Times

How come it took me so long to catch on?

The New York Times

I'm trying to catch on, man.

Forbes

"It's starting to catch on like wildfire.

BBC

Businesses are beginning to catch on, too.

Forbes

How long did it take to catch on?

Forbes

No. Beginning to catch on?

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Some players just never quite seem to catch on, though.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "to catch on" when you want to express that something is becoming popular or understood by many people. For example, "The new technology is starting to catch on among younger users."

Common error

Be mindful of the tense. Use "catching on" for continuous action (e.g., "The trend is catching on") and "caught on" for completed action (e.g., "The idea caught on quickly").

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to catch on" primarily functions as an idiomatic verb phrase. Ludwig AI confirms its usability. It describes the action of something becoming popular, understood, or successful. For example, "The new trend is starting to catch on."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Academia

11%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Science

15%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "to catch on" is a versatile idiom meaning to become popular, understood, or successful. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and wide applicability. It's most commonly found in News & Media and Academic contexts. When writing, remember to use the correct tense ("catching on" for ongoing action, "caught on" for completed action) and be aware that this expression indicates increasing acceptance or comprehension. As such, you should avoid saying "catch on fire", because it's redundant.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to understand

This is a direct and simple synonym focusing on comprehension.

to grasp the idea

Emphasizes the mental effort of understanding a concept.

to become popular

Focuses on the aspect of widespread acceptance.

to gain traction

Highlights the progress and increasing acceptance of something.

to take hold

Implies a firm establishment and widespread adoption.

to get the hang of it

Suggests learning through practice and experience.

to figure out

Focuses on the problem-solving aspect of understanding.

to dawn on someone

Describes a sudden realization or understanding.

to become fashionable

Specifically relates to trends and style.

to be a success

Focuses on achieving a desired outcome or result.

FAQs

How can I use "to catch on" in a sentence?

You can use "to catch on" to indicate understanding or popularity. For example, "It took him a while to catch on to the joke" or "The new fashion trend is beginning to catch on".

What does it mean when something "catches on"?

When something "catches on", it means it's becoming popular or widely accepted. It implies that an idea, trend, or product is gaining momentum and recognition.

What are some alternatives to "to catch on"?

Alternatives include "to understand", "to become popular", or "to gain traction" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "catch on fire" or "catch fire"?

The correct phrase is "catch fire". Saying "catch on fire" is redundant, as "catch" already implies the start of something. You should say, "The paper caught fire" not "The paper caught on fire".