I catch your drift
I understand what you mean
TRANSLATION
catch someone's drift = jmd. recht verstehen, jmd. richtig verstehen --- GOOGLE INDEX catch your drift: approximately 300,000 Google hits
STATISTICS
IN THE PRESS
So if I CATCH YOUR DRIFT, you're saying that because something has a price attached to it, visitors are going to value it more and therefore, anyone who buys my report is qualifying themselves as a future customer?
(online marketing forum)
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If you try hard enough, you can get depressed about anything - just listen to your peers moaning about the sunshine and YOU'LL CATCH MY DRIFT.
(The Guardian)
(online marketing forum)
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If you try hard enough, you can get depressed about anything - just listen to your peers moaning about the sunshine and YOU'LL CATCH MY DRIFT.
(The Guardian)
Did you
know?
catch someone's drift (or get someone's drift)
idiom
- to understand in a general way what someone is telling you
(Cambridge Dictionary)
---
Although the expression "catch someone's drift" became popular only over the last 50 or so years, the word drift, as in the general meaning of speech or writing, goes back to the 16th century.
Drift has its roots in the word "drive," which has developed numerous meanings and contexts since it first started to appear in Old English (13th century). These meanings range from literally moving something with force (They drove the cattle across the range for two weeks) to the more figurative sense of making something happen through one's own will (He really drives a hard bargain).
Another figurative use, which goes back to the 16th century, refers to "proceeding with a definite intention; to mean or intend." It's this sense of drive that makes up the underlying substance of drift.
It's important to note that "catch my drift" is an informal expression. In a casual conversation with friends or co-workers, it's okay to say "I catch your drift" as a way to explain that you understand what someone means or is trying to tell you.
It can also be used in place of the expression "If you know what I mean," to indicate that someone should be able to understand the hidden meaning behind what you just said (He's married, but seems to act very friendly with all the women in the office, if you catch my drift).
This expression is not appropriate in formal business situations however. If a senior manager explains something to you, which you want to indicate that you understand, don't use "I catch your drift." Better to just say something like, "I understand" or "Certainly, I'll take care of it".
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SYNONYMS
comprehend, get the idea, get the picture, understand
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SMUGGLE OWAD into today's conversation
"That was a complex presentation, but we catch your drift."
idiom
- to understand in a general way what someone is telling you
(Cambridge Dictionary)
---
Although the expression "catch someone's drift" became popular only over the last 50 or so years, the word drift, as in the general meaning of speech or writing, goes back to the 16th century.
Drift has its roots in the word "drive," which has developed numerous meanings and contexts since it first started to appear in Old English (13th century). These meanings range from literally moving something with force (They drove the cattle across the range for two weeks) to the more figurative sense of making something happen through one's own will (He really drives a hard bargain).
Another figurative use, which goes back to the 16th century, refers to "proceeding with a definite intention; to mean or intend." It's this sense of drive that makes up the underlying substance of drift.
It's important to note that "catch my drift" is an informal expression. In a casual conversation with friends or co-workers, it's okay to say "I catch your drift" as a way to explain that you understand what someone means or is trying to tell you.
It can also be used in place of the expression "If you know what I mean," to indicate that someone should be able to understand the hidden meaning behind what you just said (He's married, but seems to act very friendly with all the women in the office, if you catch my drift).
This expression is not appropriate in formal business situations however. If a senior manager explains something to you, which you want to indicate that you understand, don't use "I catch your drift." Better to just say something like, "I understand" or "Certainly, I'll take care of it".
---
SYNONYMS
comprehend, get the idea, get the picture, understand
---
SMUGGLE OWAD into today's conversation
"That was a complex presentation, but we catch your drift."
