English Idiom – On the nose

Meaning – To be exactly right about something. If you are on the nose you guess something correctly and accurately. You may be on the nose about money or time.

A similar English idiom is to hit the nail on the head.

Usage:

When could you use this idiom?

  • You accurately guess the cost of your shopping.
  • Somebody correctly calculates the length of time it takes to travel somewhere.
  • A friend correctly estimates your age.
  • You are playing a game and you get an answer exactly right.
Example:
  • “You said we’d arrive at 4.19 pm. We’ve arrived and your guess was on the nose!”
In The News:
Discuss:
  • Is there an idiom like this in your country?
What is an idiom?

An idiom is a word or phrase that is not taken literally.  An idiom is an expression that cannot be understood from the meanings of its individual words, but has a separate meaning of its own.