1
general::
Also, latch on to. 1. Get hold of, grasp; also, understand, grasp mentally. For example, They latched onto a fortune in the fur trade, or Carol quickly latched on to how the sewing machine works. [c. 1930] 2. Attach oneself to, join in with, as in Rob didn't know the way so he latched on to one of the older children. [c. 1930]
American Heritage Idioms
2
general::
Phrase(s): latch onto something
1. Fig. to obtain something. (See also latch on(to someone or something).) • I have to latch onto a hundred bucks by Friday night. • I latched onto a good book about repairing plumbing. 2. Fig. to begin to understand something. • When Fred finally latched onto the principles of algebra, he began to get better grades. • Sue doesn’t quite latch onto the proper stance in golf.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs