–Catch on | Image by by johnstocker on Freepik
Context
HistoryThe sport of surfing dates back to early Polynesian and Hawaiian cultures. Riding waves on a heavy wooden board was common among men and women in Hawaii, before Europeans discovered the islands. Surfing began to catch on around the world in the early 1900s. George Freeth, who was born in Hawaii, helped make the sport popular in California at that time. Duke Kahanamoku, also from Hawaii and a US Olympic gold medalist in swimming, is often called the father of modern surfing. In 1914, he traveled to Australia and provided surfing demonstrations. Tom Blake was the first surfer to add a fin to a board, in 1935, making it easier to maneuver.
Explanations and Usages
The phrase “catch on” is commonly used to describe the process by which something becomes popular or widely accepted. In academic terms, it refers to the adoption and increasing popularity of an idea, trend, or product among a large group of people over time. This can happen through word-of-mouth, media exposure, or visible endorsement by influential figures.
When something “catches on,” it signifies that it has gained sufficient recognition and approval to be adopted by a mainstream audience. The usage of the phrase is often found in contexts related to cultural trends, technological innovations, or new practices within a community.
For example, one might say, “The use of smartphones really caught on in the early 21st century,” indicating that during this period, smartphones became a common and popular technology among the general population. Another example could be, “Online learning has caught on as an effective educational tool,” suggesting that this method of learning has been widely embraced and is now regarded as valuable in educational settings.
Overall, the phrase “catch on” encapsulates the dynamics of how new ideas or products gain momentum and become integral parts of everyday life.
Examples
- Interactive whiteboards have caught on in classrooms around the world, enhancing student engagement and learning through dynamic presentations.
- The flipped classroom model has slowly begun to catch on, as educators recognize its potential to deepen understanding by having students prepare at home and engage in problem-solving during class.
–Education
- In multiple interviews, representatives from Coinbase mentioned that the company is developing a variety of cryptocurrency products, which may take time to catch on, and emphasized their resilience through past economic downturns.
- Although technological advancements have produced improved seeds, synthetic fertilizers, and other products that increase crop yields to meet rising demand, these farming methods have not yet caught on widely.
–Business
- Over the past few years, Snapchat and Instagram have both introduced AR creator tools with similar functionalities. Some of these AR effects have caught on, frequently appearing on the pages of celebrities and influencers.
Hydrogen-powered vehicles have never really caught on in the passenger car market, largely due to the lack of substantial investment in the required infrastructure.
–Technology
- Einstein’s “attack” on quantum mechanics did not catch on among physicists, who largely continued to accept quantum mechanics in its existing form.
Although brain stimulation is increasingly utilized for treating depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder, its adoption for addiction treatment has not caught on as quickly.
–Science
- It took several centuries for December 25 to catch on as a major holiday, but once it did, it gradually diminished the significance of pagan celebrations and eventually replaced them in most areas.
- On “Sunflower,” tracks like “Add Some Music to Your Day” feature the classic Beach Boys blend of crisp harmonies and “dum-dum-bee-doo” backing vocals, yet they did not catch on.
–Arts and Culture
