on the nose
15
5.9
- idiom
- Informal
:
exacto
- Her analysis of the situation was on the nose; she captured every detail perfectly.
- right on the nose
- little on the nose
- too on the nose
Examples
-
And I think Cameron Mizell may have hit it right on the nose with this one.
Blog text (15) -
You pretty much hit it on the nose.
Blog text (8) -
Well, maybe it's right on the nose.
-
You just may have hit it right on the nose.
-
I think you hit it right on the nose, Robert.
Blog text (27) -
Well, your prediction was on the nose.
Fiction book (1999) -
I think with the Scott Walker recall election, they pretty much hit that one right on the nose.
Blog text (11) -
The only way that could have been more on the nose is if the banner said this is a metaphor.
-
My grandfather hit it on the nose when he was opposed to birth control pills in the 60s.
Blog text (30) -
Erik's intuition was on the nose then.
Blog text (32)
Synonyms
901
3.2
Completely correct in every small detail
680
3.0
Exactly correct in every detail
286
3.6
Exactly correct and clear about small details
112
7.0
Exactly correct in what someone says
42
4.4
Exactly right about a fact or idea
31
6.0
Exactly right in what someone says or does
6
4.8
Exactly correct about a fact or answer
3
7.4
Exactly right for a situation or need
So exact that it leaves no room for error
Exactly correct in time or amount
Antonyms
How Accurate
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase's meaning 'exactly correct' is not a straightforward literal composition of 'on' + 'the' + 'nose', but there is a clear metaphorical spatial mapping (hitting/being 'on' the nose = exactly on target) that links the parts to the idiomatic sense. Because the connection is figurative rather than fully predictable from the words alone, a B1 learner knowing the constituents might guess the general idea but would likely need exposure to confirm the precise usage.
Etymology
The idiom on the nose may come from the image of a punch landing exactly on someone's nose, a clear, precise hit. That's why we use it today to say something is 'exactly right'.