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on the nose
01
used for emphasizing the correctness or accuracy of something
Idiom
InformalWhat is the origin of the idiom "on the nose" and when to use it?
The idiom "on the nose" has origins in horse racing. In this context, "on the nose" referred to a bet placed on a horse to win, with the expectation that the chosen horse would cross the finish line first. The term gradually evolved to describe something that is precise, accurate, or exactly right, similar to predicting the winner of a race. People use the phrase "on the nose" to mean that something is exactly correct or accurate without any deviation or error.
Example
His estimate for the project completion date was right on the nose; it finished exactly when he predicted.
The temperature reached the forecasted high of 90 degrees on the nose.
The chef's seasoning was on the nose; the dish had the perfect amount of flavor.
02
being precise with regard to a prescribed or specified criterion
