catch the drift

catch the drift

To understand the general meaning of some situation or piece of information. Since I don't have time at work to read news articles in full, I usually just read their blurbs online to catch the drift of what's going on in the world. I was so tired that I couldn't focus on the boss's speech during the meeting, but I think I caught the drift of what he was saying.See also: catch, drift

catch/get somebody’s/the drift

(informal) understand the general meaning of what somebody says or writes: Do you catch my drift? ♢ My German isn’t very good, but I got the drift of what he said. ♢ He wasn’t the sort of boy you’d introduce to your mother, if you get my drift (= I have not told you all the details, but I am sure you can understand what I mean).See also: catch, drift, get