cotton on to
Get the idea
To cotton on to something is to come to understand or realize it, especially after some delay: It took me a while to cotton on to what she was hinting at.
The phrase suggests a gradual dawning of awareness rather than sudden insight.
Chiefly British, though understood elsewhere.
- learnAcquire knowledge or skill
- understandGrasp the meaning
- discoverFind something unknown
- catch onGrasp or gain popularity
- comprehendTo fully understand
realize · see the light · grasp · see · read between the lines · put two and two together · recognize · perceive · infer · pick up on · get the hint · figure out · deduce · click · twig · interpret · detect · discern