catch the drift

Cats can, obviously, catch the drift more than people.

In a way that actually was not measured, admittedly, but we're all adult enough to catch the drift of these elaborate concepts.

"What passage?" asked Mr. Brown, still failing to catch the drift of the other's words.

But, though his gaze dwelt as freely as he pleased on her, on the turn of her pale cheek, and the curve of her figure, he was deceived into thinking that she did not catch the drift that was so clear to him.

At first he could not catch the drift of the talk, but presently discovered that the stranger was some sort of officer of the law.