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spot on

spot on

42 4.4
Exactly right about a fact or idea
  • idiom
  • UK
translation icon : acertado
  • Look, I think that analysis is pretty spot on in terms of timely.
  • absolutely spot on
  • really spot on
  • a spot-on impression

Look, I think that analysis is pretty spot on in terms of timely.

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Examples

  • Grateful for the way you minister to us with these spot-on words.

    Blog text (2)
  • The exposure setting was adjusted to +0.7, and the picture obtained was 'spot on.'

    Academic text (2003)
  • This was just spot on in every way.

  • Oh, you were so spot on.

  • Oh no, you were spot on, it was most definitely a foul.

  • And you're spot on that it needs to come from both ends.

    Blog text (4)
  • And George, your writing is so spot-on.

  • It is a very specific, really spot on accurate depiction.

  • Yeah, I think that's that's spot on because that tool is really useful.

  • Her analysis of the situation was spot on, capturing all the key details accurately.

Synonyms

exact
vsspot on
901 3.2

Completely correct in every small detail

is a general exactness term without strong formality
accurate
vsspot on
680 3.0

Exactly correct in every detail

is the everyday claim of being exactly right rather than technical
precise
vsspot on
286 3.6

Exactly correct and clear about small details

is the broader claim of being perfectly right rather than technical exactness
true
vsspot on
261 1.0

Exactly aimed and hitting the intended point

is the more specific assertion of perfect exactness rather than broad alignment
right on
vsspot on
  • Informal
112 7.0

Exactly correct in what someone says

is the neutral label for perfect factual accuracy
on the money
vsspot on
  • Informal
31 6.0

Exactly right in what someone says or does

is the neutral expression for perfect accuracy
on the nose
vsspot on
  • Informal
15 5.9

Exactly correct in every detail

is the unspecialized statement of overall correctness
dead on
vsspot on
6 4.8

Exactly correct about a fact or answer

is the standard neutral form for exact accuracy
bang on
vsspot on
  • UK
3 7.4

Exactly right for a situation or need

is the more general, non-idiomatic expression of exactness
letter-perfect
vsspot on
1 5.8

Exactly correct in every word, matching the original text

is the general idea of being exactly right without word fidelity
on the button
vsspot on
1 6.6

Exactly at the right time or moment

is the plain neutral term rather than a timing idiom
accurate to a hair
vsspot on
  • Informal
8.1

So exact that it leaves no room for error

is a normal claim of perfect accuracy without that extreme exactness

Antonyms

113 4.3

Not correct or exact, with mistakes

2 1.0

In a way that is not correct

How Accurate

perfect
1.0
spot on
  • UK
42 4.4
correct
1.0
close
1.0
approximate
29 3.9

Surface Forms

spot on positive

Morphology

spot + on

There is a clear partial connection: 'spot' can mean a precise point and 'on' indicates being at that point, so the combination conveys being 'on target' or exactly at the right point. However, the evaluative sense 'exactly right' is a conventionalized, metaphorical extension and not fully predictable from the parts alone, so learners may not consistently infer it without exposure.

Etymology

Spot on may come from target shooting, where hitting the small spot on the target shows a perfect, exact shot. So, saying something is spot on means it is 'exactly right'.