Communication
cotton on to something
finally understand
To cotton on to something means to finally understand or notice it, often after being slow to realise it.
Hear it in real life
Why is everyone laughing?
You haven't cottoned on to the joke yet, have you?
She kept dropping hints until I finally cottoned on to what she meant.
The mistake everyone makes
Not: I cottoned on ‸ the joke.
Say: I cottoned on to the joke.
Use "on to" before the thing you realise or understand.
Build it
How it fits in a sentence.
cotton on to something; cottoned on to something
Your turn: say it out loud
She kept dropping hints until I finally cottoned on to what she meant.
Say it out loud two or three times, until it feels like yours.
cotton on to something
finally understand
“She kept dropping hints until I finally cottoned on to what she meant.”
heytardy
Did this help?
Your turn on Facebook
Write one sentence with a phrase from this page
Post it in the comments. We reply to every one and fix it kindly.
Write it on Facebook