Previously I discussed intransitive phrasal verbs. Just as a review, let me explain one more time. If a verb or phrasal verb is intransitive, it means that it does NOT take an object. So, today I’d like to write about the intransitive phrasal verb: catch on. It has two meanings:
1. to start to understand something. For example:
My girlfriend doesn’t want to tell her parents that we’re dating, but I think they’re starting to catch on.
A: I don’t understand how to play this game.
B: Don’t worry. Just watch us play, and I’m sure you’ll catch on.
In the first example, the parents are becoming suspicious that their daughter is dating the speaker. In the second example, the person is saying that if the listener watches them play the game, he or she will start to understand how to do it. This phrasal verb is often used when teaching someone how to do something.
2. for something to start to become popular. For example:
That TV show wasn’t popular at all when it started, but after a few weeks, it really caught on. Now everyone is watching it.
I know our products aren’t popular now, but I think they’ll catch on eventually. If they do, we’ll be very rich.
In the first example, the TV show started becoming popular after a period of being unpopular. In the second example, the products are still unpopular, but the person is predicting that after some time, they will become popular. The word “eventually” means after an unstated or unknown amount of time.
I hope that this is clear for you. If you don’t understand after reading the blog once, read it again and I’m sure you’ll catch on! 
English Help Online is offering people the chance to take email lessons. The format of the lessons is the same as for my blog, and I focus on business English and daily conversation. If you or anyone you know needs to improve business English writing skills or simply wants to learn more natural expressions for daily conversation, my email lessons are the most convenient and least expensive way to do that! I can send free samples to anyone who is interested!
If you’d like to learn more about this, please go to my website. The link for that site is:
http://www.englishhelponline.net
If you choose the full package you will receive sixteen lessons a month (four lessons a week) by email, writing assignments with full corrections and a voice recording of each lesson!
If anyone has any questions, please let me know.
