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on the nose

idiom

The idiom "on the nose" is used to describe precision or directness in various contexts, including timing, accuracy, and dialogue.

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Definition

B2General

(informal)Exactly right or precise.

Example

  • His estimate was right on the nose.
  • She guessed my age on the nose.

B2Timing

(informal)At the exact time specified.

Example

  • The train arrived at 8:00 on the nose.

C1Screenwriting

(informal, technical)Direct or obvious, lacking subtlety.

Example

  • The dialogue in the movie was too on the nose, making it feel unrealistic.

Similar

Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "on the nose":

dead onspot onon pointunder someone's noseon targetnose outsocked on the nosenose pokeright onnose bonknail itto the quickto the pointon the ballnose testbutton noseclose to the bonebanana nosein someone's faceon the spotnose to the grindstoneon one's headnose blindon the nodblood nosestraight from the shoulderoff the mark