"Somebody cottons on something"?

[Mehrgan]

Hi there,

If 'I cotton on something', is it the same as when 'that thing dawns on me'?



Thanks a lot!

[emsr2d2]

Hi there,

If 'I cotton on something', is it the same as when 'that thing dawns on me'?



Thanks a lot!

The phrase is "cotton on to something" and it doesn't really mean the same as "something dawning on somebody".

If you cotton on, you understand.
If something dawns on you, you suddenly realise it.

[5jj]

If you cotton on, you understand.
If something dawns on you, you suddenly realise it.

For me, something can quite slowly dawn on me; rather like the slow onset of dawn.

[emsr2d2]

For me, something can quite slowly dawn on me; rather like the slow onset of dawn.

That's a good point. If you cotton on to something, it usually happens quite suddenly.