cotton to: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low-Frequency/UncommonInformal
Quick answer
What does “cotton to” mean?
To take a liking to.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To take a liking to; to become fond of or approving of someone or something.
To begin to understand or appreciate something; to feel comfortable with or agreeable toward a person, idea, or situation (often used in negative constructions to express the opposite).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The phrase is primarily American in origin and remains far more common in American English. In British English, it is understood but rarely used, often perceived as an Americanism.
Connotations
In AmE: informal, folksy, slightly old-fashioned. In BrE: foreign-sounding, niche, possibly from Western films/novels.
Frequency
High-frequency in AmE informal speech; low-frequency in BrE.
Grammar
How to Use “cotton to” in a Sentence
Subject + cotton to + object (person/idea/thing)Subject + negative auxiliary + cotton to + objectVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cotton to” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He's lived here years but never quite cottoned to our way of doing things.
- I don't think she'll ever cotton to the idea of a caravan holiday.
American English
- The kids really cottoned to their new teacher right away.
- I never did cotton to his cynical view of politics.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might be used in very informal settings: 'The new team never really cottoned to the proposed workflow.'
Academic
Not used.
Everyday
Primary context: 'I didn't cotton to my new neighbour at first.'
Technical
Not used.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cotton to”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cotton to”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cotton to”
- Using it in formal writing.
- Incorrect preposition: 'cotton with' or 'cotton for'.
- Using it as a transitive verb without 'to': 'I cottoned the idea.' (incorrect)
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is decidedly informal and is best used in spoken English or casual writing.
Yes, but it is very frequently used in the negative ('never cottoned to', 'didn't cotton to') to express a failure to like or understand.
'Cotton to' means to like or approve. 'Cotton on to' (more common in BrE) means to realize or understand something, often something secretive.
Yes, etymologically. It derives from the earlier meaning 'to prosper' or 'to succeed', as cotton plants prosper when they form a good, smooth nap or surface. This led to the idea of 'being in harmony with' or 'getting on well with'.
To take a liking to.
Cotton to: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkɒt.ən tuː/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkɑː.tən tuː/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “cotton on to (something)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of soft COTTON – something comfortable you grow to LIKE. 'I COTTON TO' things I find COMFORTABLE and pleasing.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIKING IS A NATURAL FIBER (cotton) that grows and becomes comfortable with wear.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the phrase 'cotton to' MOST appropriately used?