on file

Idioms  

1. In or as if in a record for easy reference. For example, There's no job open right now, but we'll keep your résumé on file. The use of file in the sense of “a collection of papers stored for ready reference” dates from the early 1600s.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

on file

“I’d often get a call that would say, ‘Hey, we need to be on file with this in less than 24 hours, get whatever resources you need, just make it happen,’” Hilton recalls.

From Salon ● Jul. 15, 2026

When he had to fill out paperwork, his wife was contacted even though all his details were on file.

From BBC ● Jun. 26, 2026

When he called, he said, the representative didn’t have anything on file about the update, so he completed a new form.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 15, 2026

In addition, the account allows you to review the information the agency has on file, including your earnings history and addresses.

From MarketWatch ● Mar. 18, 2026

In England, it was already possible to search by fingerprint; a complex system of classification meant that a new fingerprint could be compared to similar fingerprints on file in minutes.

From "The Mona Lisa Vanishes" by Nicholas Day

Related Words

• documented
• listed
• registered
• reported
• taped