attach (oneself) to (someone or something)
attach (oneself) to (someone or something)
1. To connect oneself to something. Please be sure to attach yourself to your luggage at the airport. Have you attached yourself to the boat? OK, let's go jet skiing! First and foremost, you all need to attach yourselves to your life preservers.
2. To involve oneself with another person or group. I heard that Jon has attached himself to a new lady—is that true? Teddy has attached himself to the drama club this semester. I don't trust that side of the family, that's why I don't attach myself to them.
3. To involve oneself with another person or group in an overbearing way. I hope my little cousins don't try to come with us—they're always attaching themselves to me, and it's so annoying. Can you please talk to Aunt Betty for a while? She's attached herself to me all day, and I can't take much more of her. Any time I go out, these chatty guys always attach themselves to me, ugh.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
attach oneself to someone
1. Fig. to become emotionally involved with someone. Fred seems to have attached himself to a much older woman, who has captured his attention. Somehow, Susan has attached herself emotionally to Tom, and she is distraught over his being away.
2. Fig. to follow after someone; to become a constant companion to someone. Andy's little brother attached himself to Andy and his friends—much to Andy's distress. John attached himself to his older brother and drove him crazy.
attach oneself to something
1. Lit. to connect or secure oneself to something. During the storm, Tony attached himself to the helm and proceeded to steer the boat. The caterpillar attached itself to a branch and began to spin its cocoon.
2. Fig. to choose to associate with a particular thing, group, or organization. Ron attached himself to a volleyball team that practices at the school. The manager attached himself to the luncheon club and became a regular fixture there.
attach to someone
Fig. [for blame, importance, guilt, fault, etc.] to become "fixed" onto someone or an organization. A lot of guilt attaches to Henry for his part in the plot. Most of the blame for the accident attaches to Roger.
attach to something
[for something] to be meant to fit onto or into something. This one attaches to this other one right at this point. This part should have attached to the back of the desk, but it didn't fit.
attached to someone or something
1. Lit. connected to someone or something. The patient has a tube attached to his arm. A little shelf is attached to the wall.
2. Fig. fond of someone or something. John is really attached to his old-fashioned ideas. I'm really attached to my longtime girlfriend.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
attach to
v.
1. To fasten or secure something to something: The electrician attached the wires to the socket. The carpenter attached the knobs to the cabinet doors.
2. To adhere, belong, or relate to something: It is not a very difficult job, and not much responsibility attaches to it.
3. To affix or append something to something: I attached all of my receipts to my spending report.
4. To ascribe or assign some quality to something: Several ambassadors said they would walk out of the meeting, but our officials attached no significance to the threat.
5. To associate closely with someone or something: I quickly attached myself to the chess club when I started school.
6. To be bound emotionally to someone or something: I'm still attached to that old sweater I used to wear in high school.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.