on the nose

phrase

1

a

: at or to a target point

the bombs landed right on the nose

b(1)

: on target : accurate

(2)

: accurately

2

: to win

—used of horse or dog racing bets

Examples of on the nose in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This is fun, if a little on the nose, and perhaps meant to be read ironically, evidence of how one era’s urgent fears decay into another’s kitsch. — Emily Witt, New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2026

In the end the answer was so obvious, so on the nose, that hopefully no socially ambitious parents put a deposit down at Marlborough, Oundle, or Wellington. — Eva Wolchover, Vanity Fair, 21 Sep. 2026

Plus, the comfy layer, lightweight skirt, and practical shoes are so on the nose of how stylish people are working with fall’s tumultuous weather patterns. — Kaitlin Clapinski, InStyle, 17 Sep. 2026

Yes, a bit on the nose, but who could begrudge Holloway for indulging in some fun for himself? — Greg Evans, Deadline, 29 Aug. 2026

Rhymes for on the nose

• agarose
• aliquots
• amigos
• anthracnose
• bottlenose
• buffaloes
• bungalows
• calicoes
• cameos
• commandos
• conversos
• decompose