latch Idiom

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latch on|hitch|hitch onto|latch

v., informal 1. To get hold of; grasp or grab; catch. He looked for something to latch onto and keep from falling. The football player latched onto a pass. 2. slang To get into your possession. The banker latched onto a thousand shares of stock. 3. slang To understand. The teacher explained the idea of jet engines until the students latched onto it.
Synonym: CATCH ON. 4. informal To keep; to hold. The poor woman latched onto the little money she had left. 5. slang To stay with; not leave. Marie and Dick wanted to go to the movies by themselves, but Mane's little brother latched onto them.

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latch string|latch|string

n. 1. A string that opens an old-fashioned door by lifting a small bar. The early settlers kept the latch string outside the door when they were working around the house, but at night they pulled it to the inside. 2. informal A warm welcome; a friendly greeting. Used in such phrases as "the latch string is out." Mary has her latch siring out for everyone who comes.
Synonym: WELCOME MAT².

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latch

latch
1.
latch onto
☆
Informal to get or obtain
2.
on the latch
fastened by the latch (sense ) but not locked or bolted

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latch onto

latch onto
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]