to the point
Idioms-
Relevant, concerning the matter at hand, as in Her remarks were brief and to the point , or He rambled on and on, never speaking to the point . [Early 1800s] For an antonym, see beside the point .
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Concerning the important or essential issue, as in More to the point, she hasn't any money . This usage is often put as , meaning “address the important issue.” For example, Please come to the point; we haven't much time , or Do you suppose he'll ever get to the point of all this? [Late 1300s]
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.
More to the point, perhaps we should ask whose judgment has really failed here, on the most massive scale imaginable?
From Salon
These particulates can damage public health, but regulation has caused industries to limit their emissions to the point where they now pose little risk.
The North Koreans have not only made their thievery more efficient, but have also refined their money-laundering techniques to the point that the stolen booty disappears into the dark reaches of cyberspace within days.
From Los Angeles Times
Films are a chance to work out these nagging, existential neuroses that live in the back of the mind, the type that overwhelm to the point of panic if thought about for too long.
From Salon
"The challenge has been to devise a more benign pre-treatment process, diminishing risk to the point that patients suffering from an autoimmune deficiency that may not be immediately life-threatening would feel comfortable undergoing the treatment."
From Science Daily
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
