on the nose

Idioms  

1. Exactly, precisely; especially, at the appointed time or estimated amount. For example, The busload of students arrived at the museum at ten o'clock right on the nose, or He guessed the final score on the nose. This term, like on the button, may come from boxing, where the opponent's nose is a highly desired target. [c. 1930]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

on the nose

Most on the nose was 2013’s Elysium, in which healthcare is sporadic on a post-collapse Earth.

From Slate ● Sep. 22, 2026

Bild said the plane landed safely at Hanover airport, where minor damage was discovered on the nose section.

From BBC ● Aug. 5, 2026

OpenAI’s announcement seemed a little too on the nose for some in the tech industry already suspicious of its efforts to shape regulations to its liking.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 25, 2026

Chances are, you’ll retire either sooner or later than you plan to, rather than hit that date on the nose.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 29, 2026

“Sorry, Joe. But this is a limited-edition mask. See? It’s got purple ooze on the nose instead of just green ooze.”

From "A Monster of a Mystery (The Hardy Boys: Secret Files, #5)" by Franklin W. Dixon