attach to
(redirected from attach himself to)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.
attach to (something)
To connect two things. In this usage, an item can be mentioned between "attach" and "to." Can you please attach this button to my sweater? Please be sure to attach a cover page to your report. Mom, the teacher said that the check needs to be attached to our permission slip!
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
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.
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.