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on sight

Idioms

Also, at sight. Immediately upon seeing, as in The soldiers threatened to shoot looters on sight, or He's able to multiply those three-digit figures at sight. [Second half of 1400s]

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"Operators do a lot of caramel testing, just on sight and on feel. So basically, they walk up to the caramel and just give it a squeeze."

From BBC • Dec. 18, 2025

A curfew order has also been put in place in parts of Santa Monica, Pacific Palisades and Altadena, giving law enforcement the power to arrest anyone in the restricted areas on sight.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 13, 2025

I don't want to sound like I'm prejudging these birds, but they're not like peacocks where it is easy to tell them apart on sight.

From Salon • Nov. 16, 2024

Astronomy has long centered on sight, says Kimberly Arcand, visualization scientist at the Harvard & Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.

From National Geographic • Jan. 26, 2024

"He may know the blade, yes ... but, my lady, the moment we go ashore we are at risk. And there are those at court who will know you on sight."

From "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023