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sweet spot

sweet spot

23 4.4
The best point where something works well
  • noun
  • /swit spɑt/
  • Informal
translation icon : punto óptimo
  • The coach explained that the sweet spot for practicing is early in the morning when the gym is quiet.

They played it safe this generation by launching the sweet spot GPU first.

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Examples

  • The same principles apply for finding the "sweet" spot to increase your audience.

    Blog text (21)
  • So, I'm really in a sweet spot right now for sustained energy.

  • Find your social sweet spot with Better Help.

  • Find your sweet spot with your mental health with Better Help.

  • Looks like you found the sweet spot.

  • Always try to find the sweet spot in whichever pursuit you do.

  • That's the sweet spot where the magic happens.

  • The Lexile Framework helps in finding the "sweet spot" in terms of finding text at the appropriate challenge level.

    Academic text (2014)
  • Air quality benefits are in the sweet spot where equity and efficiency intersect.

    Blog text (20)
  • To improve your skills, try to find the sweet spot where comfort meets challenge.

Synonyms

vantage point
vssweet spot
43 4.4

A place that gives a clear view of something

is the most effective location for activity rather than a viewing position
optimum
vssweet spot
31 5.1

Most suitable for a given situation

is the practical place or range that yields most effective performance
plum spot
vssweet spot
7.3

A very good place to be for a special reason, like a seat by a window

is the precise position or range that gives optimal performance

How Effective

sweet spot
  • Informal
23 4.4
misplacement
1 4.3

Surface Forms

sweet spot singular
sweet spots plural

Morphology

sweet + spot

The sense 'optimal point' is a metaphorical extension of 'sweet' (pleasant/ideal) combined with 'spot' (location), so a learner who knows both words can partially infer that it refers to a particularly good place or point. However, the shift from 'sweet' meaning pleasant to 'sweet spot' meaning 'most effective point' is figurative and not fully predictable without exposure, and many languages do not use the same literal wording, so it is only partially transparent to a B1 learner.

Etymology

Sweet spot comes from sports and music, where one small spot on a bat, racket, or instrument feels and sounds especially sweet when you hit it and the ball or note comes out best. That's why sweet spot now means 'the best point' in a situation.