right on
112
7.0
- idiom
- Informal
:
exactamente
- I mean, it says it right on the... box.
When he did that, Neptune landed right on Newton's laws.
- When he did that, Neptune landed right on Newton's laws.
- You hit it right on the nail every time.
Examples
-
Sounds like I was right on both accounts.
-
You followed your intuition today and you were right on target.
Fiction book (2001) -
You all made it, and right on time.
-
I showed up right on time.
-
You are right on time.
-
If we leave now, we'll be right on time.
Fiction book (2001) -
I hate to say it, but I think Walter was right on this one.
-
Here, though, she had to admit, Mrs. Levy's assessment was right on target.
Fiction book (2000) -
Bosch checked his watch and saw that he was right on time.
Fiction book (2001) -
You are right on with your assessment of the situation.
Synonyms
∞
1.0
Correct or most suitable for a situation
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
261
1.0
Exactly aimed and hitting the intended point
42
4.4
Exactly right about a fact or idea
31
6.0
Exactly right in what someone says or does
15
5.9
Exactly correct in every detail
6
4.8
Exactly correct about a fact or answer
5
7.5
Completely correct and in line with modern social values
3
7.4
Exactly right for a situation or need
1
6.6
Exactly at the right time or moment
Antonyms
How Accurate
Surface Forms
Morphology
right + on
The core meaning 'exactly correct' is clearly linked to 'right' (correct), so a learner who knows 'right' will grasp the general sense. However, the role of 'on' here is idiomatic/intensifying rather than literal, and that particle use is not fully predictable for a B1 learner without exposure, making the expression only partially compositional.
Etymology
Right on comes from the image of hitting the center of a target; imagine an arrow landing right on the spot. That's why saying someone is 'right on' means they are 'exactly correct'.