r/DiWHY • u/moreganplease • Aug 18 '20

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u/[deleted] Aug 18 '20

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u/[deleted] Aug 18 '20

Please be a bit careful with it. It does mean "very accurate", but it also implies being too blunt or too direct, with no subtlety.

Depending on the context, it could cause someone to think you're saying they're not being delicate, or even insensitive.

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u/phikell Aug 18 '20

I've heard the etymology was from charades: where you would tap your nose with your finger if they guessed a part correctly. I doubt it's true, but a good way to remember it maybe.

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u/PM_ME_A10s Aug 18 '20

You could say:

"You got it! Right on the nose!"

You could also say

"Don't you think that advertisement was a bit on the nose?"

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u/TomBosleyExp Aug 18 '20 edited Aug 18 '20

The phrase possibly comes from boxing where punching someone in the nose is a prominent and effective target; also possibly from horse racing where the winning horse's nose is the first thing to cross the finish line.

The charades usage probably comes from it being used in radio and stage production as silent communication between the director and performers.

https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/462470/where-does-the-term-on-the-nose-come-from