Is glom ever used without onto?

Good question, Father Steve.

The American Heritage Dictionary defines "glom" as a verb as follows:

"To seize upon or latch onto something".

Does this take us back to "hoi polloi" or "the hoi polloi"?

If "onto" is included in the definition, then "glom onto" is as wrong as "the hoi polloi".

But everyone says "glom onto", so we may as well glom onto the bandwagon.

On 2nd thought, I think it depends on the usage.

A person can climb a fire escape ... if they are already on it. But you have to "climb onto" a fire escape before you can actually begin to climb it. (Ditto climbing stairs if the first step is obstructed.)

The same holds true with "glom".

An oil spill is carried by the tide until it "gloms onto" a shoreline.

On the other hand, a military invader "gloms" a beachhead. The shoreline is just the place where "the glom", like "the climb", begins.

A person who intends to take [and keep] an advantage, will "glom" an advantage.

If the taking is more symbolic than real, like occupying a public place as a protest, then the protesters are simply "glomming onto" an advantage.