on it like a car bonnet
- idiom
- Slang
:
rápido en actuar
- Whenever there's a problem, she's on it like a car bonnet before anyone else even notices.
Examples
-
If you need that report finished tonight, I'll be on it like a car bonnet.
-
As soon as the news broke, the press were on it like a car bonnet.
-
She was on it like a car bonnet when the project deadline approached.
-
When he heard the news, he was on it like a car bonnet!
-
Whenever there's a problem, she's on it like a car bonnet before anyone else even notices.
-
If you need that report finished tonight, I'll be on it like a car bonnet.
-
As soon as the news broke, the press were on it like a car bonnet.
Synonyms
61
3.2
Able to understand and answer fast
61
3.0
Paying close attention and caring about someone's needs
35
3.9
Quick to notice small details and things around you
18
3.3
Clear and easy to see or understand when people pay attention to it
9
5.6
Quick to notice and understand things
5
6.7
Able to understand new things very quickly
4
5.2
Able to think and answer quickly in surprising or difficult situations
3
4.1
Able to see small things and notice small changes quickly
2
5.6
Able to respond quickly under pressure
1
5.2
Aware of possible danger or change
Giving full attention to one thing
Quick to notice small changes or details that others miss
Quick to notice and understand small details
Watchful and careful to notice danger or mistakes
To pay careful attention to what is happening
Antonyms
How Prompt
Surface Forms
Morphology
on + it + like + a + car + bonnet
The overall meaning 'extremely focused/quick to act' cannot be derived from the literal senses of the constituents — 'on it' plus the simile 'like a car bonnet' does not transparently map to attentiveness. The image is a colloquial, culture-specific intensifier (and even the word 'bonnet' varies regionally), so a B1 learner knowing the words would not reliably infer the idiomatic meaning.
Etymology
On it like a car bonnet may come from the picture of insects or dirt that land quickly on a car's bonnet. So, if someone is on it like a car bonnet, they get to a task fast and hold on, meaning they are 'extremely focused' and quick to act.