Phrase guide

be onto something

verb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To have gained an insight that could lead to future success.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • This product could be a game changer. I think you are onto something.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: be onto nothing

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

7 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Danish: være inde på — to have gained an insight that could lead to future success
  • Danish: have fat i noget — to have gained an insight that could lead to future success
  • Danish: have/få færden af — to have gained an insight that could lead to future success
  • German: auf einer heißen Spur sein — to have gained an insight that could lead to future success
  • Polish: być na tropie — to have gained an insight that could lead to future success
  • Spanish: calar — to have gained an insight that could lead to future success
  • Spanish: sospechar — to have gained an insight that could lead to future success