Idioms

Question

Are the idioms "Catch/ get the drift "and "get the gist "interchangeable in all contexts? Like in " I don't know English , but I think I got the drift / get the gist of what he was saying"

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

Vladvget the gist of

OK. They might be interchangeable in some sentences, but I think of them as a little different. (I would use "get the gist of" in your sentence.)

"get the gist of (something)" is the usual formula. "get the gist" is also possible, but it's probably used less often. The "gist" is the core meaning (of something), minus the subtleties.

In contrast, "get the drift of (something)" is hardly used at all. Usually, you just "get the drift". It means you can extrapolate from the facts (or clues or hints) that you already have to form a better picture of the situation. Frequently you give a rough description of a situation and then add "you get the drift" at the end to say, "and you can figure out the rest of it yourself".

(I should also say that "catch the drift" is also very seldom used. It's better to say "get" than to say "catch".)

Once I get the gist of a conversation, it's much easier to follow.
It's way more detailed than that, but I think you get the drift.

CJ

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