cotton on

B2 informal intransitive

In simple words

To slowly figure out what is going on.

Literal meaning: Cotton is a soft fibre; 'on' suggests attachment — as if an idea is slowly sticking to your mind like fibres clinging together.

Meanings

1 B2 idiomatic informal

uncommon

To gradually understand or become aware of something, especially after a delay.

"It took me a few minutes, but I finally cottoned on that he was joking."

Usage notes

Chiefly British and Australian English. Often implies the realisation took longer than expected. Usually appears in past tense ('cottoned on') or with 'eventually', 'finally', 'quickly', etc.

Commonly used with

eventually finally quickly slowly immediately never

Forms

Base

cotton on

I/you/we/they

3rd person

cottons on

he/she/it

Past simple

cottoned on

yesterday

Past participle

cottoned on

have + pp

-ing form

cottoning on

continuous

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