Antonyms for "catching the drift" could include not understanding, being confused or being out of touch. When one fails to pick up on the underlying message or intention behind a conversation, they might not be catching the drift. This could be due to a lack of attention, misunderstandings or language barriers. On the other hand, being out of touch or being disconnected from popular culture or current conversations might result in not catching the drift. In today's fast-paced world, it's important to keep up with current trends and understand the ever-changing nature of conversations and social norms to avoid not catching the drift.