Definition of pop on

The expression "pop on" is an informal and colloquial way of saying "join" or "add oneself" to something. Its origin can be traced back to the 1960s and 1970s when it became popular in British working-class slang. At that time, the British television broadcasting company, BBC, launched a new programming service for the northern region of England called "BBC1 North". Viewers could choose to watch this service by changing the channel on their televisions, which was done by pressing a button to "pop the set on" to a new channel. As the expression gained popularity, it started to be used in other contexts aside from changing television channels. People began using it to describe adding themselves to activities or events. For instance, instead of saying "join the party", they would say "pop on to the party". The term has since spread beyond the British Isles, with its usage gradually increasing in other English-speaking regions. While some people find it helpful and convenient, others may view it as informal or overly colloquial in certain contexts, and consider more formal alternatives such as "join" or "be part of".