latched onto

Verb

latch onto (third-person singular simple present latches onto, present participle latching onto, simple past and past participle latched onto)

1. (idiomatic, transitive) To obtain, acquire or get and keep hold of something.
   • They latched onto the idea and gave it up only reluctantly.
2. (idiomatic, transitive) To approach or stay close to someone, especially in a manner perceived as bothersome.
   • He was looking for someone to talk to and latched onto me for some reason.

   Synonyms:

   catch on, cotton on, fasten, get onto, hook on, seize on, take up