latch onto

Meanings

verblatch onto (third-person singular simple present latches onto, present participle latching onto, simple past and past participle latched onto)

present singular third person latches onto · participle present latching onto · participle past latched onto · past latched onto · alternative latch on to

idiomatictransitiveTo obtain, acquire or get and keep hold of something.
They latched onto the idea and gave it up only reluctantly.
1 more example
And there was time for two more All Blacks tries, first flanker Adam Thomson flopping over after a break by Jimmy Cowan, before Williams latched onto a clever cross-kick by Kahui for his second touch-down with three minutes remaining.
2011 September 16, Ben Dirs, “Rugby World Cup 2011: New Zealand 83-7 Japan”, in BBC Sport
idiomatictransitiveTo approach or stay close to someone, especially in a manner perceived as bothersome.
He was looking for someone to talk to and latched onto me for some reason.
Synonyms: catch on, cotton on, fasten, get onto, hook on, seize on, take up

verbTo approach or stay close to someone, especially in a manner perceived as bothersome.

Spanish pegarse a, aferrarse a

Cite this entry

APA

latch onto. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/latch%20onto

MLA

“latch onto.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/latch%20onto. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “latch onto,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/latch%20onto.