spot onadv.adj.int.
/ˌspɒt ˈɒn/, U.S. /ˈˌspɑd ˈɑn/ colloquial.
A. adv.
Completely accurately; precisely; exactly right.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > freedom from error, correctness > exactness, accuracy, precision > [adverb]
rightlyeOE
righteOE
evenOE
evenlya1225
redlyc1275
justicelya1375
justilya1375
justlya1375
redilya1375
trulya1375
properlya1382
precisec1392
preciselyc1392
truec1392
straitlya1395
leala1400
arightc1405
by linec1420
justlyc1425
featlya1450
rule-righta1450
to the letter?1495
exquisitely1526
evenliklya1530
very1530
absolutely1538
jump1539
just1568
accurately1581
punctually1581
jumplya1586
arights1596
just so1601
plumb1601
compassly1606
nicelya1616
squarely1626
justa1631
adequately1632
mathematicallya1638
critically1655
exquisitively1660
just1665
pointedly1667
faithfully1690
correctlya1704
jus1801
jest1815
jes1851
neat1875
cleanly1883
on the nose1883
smack-dab1892
spot on1920
forensically1974
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > freedom from error, correctness > exactness, accuracy, precision > [adverb] > exactly so, just
rightOE
evenOE
alrightOE
allOE
evenlya1375
preciselyc1443
very1530
meet1543
on the spot1884
(right) on the button1925
spot on2009
1920 E. H. Young By Sea & Land i. 56 All these X-chasing instruments make my head go round. You can overdo all that, I say; shoot quick and spot on—that is the best way in the long run.
1962 L. Davidson Rose of Tibet vii. 134 Our oracle here warned that you would be coming... The time was fixed fairly spot-on.
1973 Times 14 May 9/1 I moved my run-up back from 109ft to 114ft and fitted in 18 strides so that I was hitting the board spot on.
2009 Irish Pages 6 191 ‘Yeah,’ says I immediately. You've got it spot on there, friend.
B. adj.
Usually in predicative use. Completely accurate; exactly right; perfect.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > freedom from error, correctness > exactness, accuracy, precision > [adjective]
rightOE
namely?c1225
lealc1330
very1338
truec1400
justc1425
exquisite1541
precise?a1560
jump1581
accuratea1599
nice1600
refined1607
punctual1608
press?1611
square1632
exact1645
unerring1665
proper1694
correct1705
pointed1724
prig1776
precisivea1805
as right as a trivet1835
spot on1936
1936 J. H. Reyner Testing Radio Sets (ed. 3) xiii. 191 We..have three variables, namely, the oscillator inductance, the parallel trimming condenser, and the series padding condenser, and three frequencies which are to be ‘spot on’.
1956 C. Willock Death at Flight iii. 34 ‘What a spot for a front tyre to choose to burst,’ he said. ‘Funny thing, sir, the outer casing looks as though it was in spot-on condition.’
1966 M. Woodhouse Tree Frog xxv. 182 Neither the altimeter nor the compass is one hundred per cent spot on, because we didn't have time for an instrument check.
1982 Notes & Queries Oct. 472/2 His thesis is provocative, its evidences spot-on, and his conclusions pretty convincing.
2012 Independent 17 Mar. 11/1 Mr Smith's firecracker of a resignation letter was ‘spot on’.
C. int.
Used to indicate that something is exactly right or correct.
ΚΠ
1978 Australia's Wilderness (Austral. Conservation Found.) 98 Geoffrey Goode—My point is that it shouldn't be only the more affluent schools, but it should be less a given school but more widely distributed. Keith McKenry—Yes, spot on.
1987 D. Lucie Fashion i. ii. 6 Cash Is that coffee ready? Liz Nearly..Strong, black. I'm guessing here... Stuart Spot on.
1995 D. McLean Bunker Man 8 Spot on! Without a script, too!
2000 J. Goodwin Danny Boy vi. 124 ‘No-one taught you manners?’ ‘Spot on, mate,’ I replied.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2016; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adv.adj.int.1920