Phrase guide

on the dot

prep_phrase · 2 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

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1

prep_phrase

Meaning 1

Exactly; precisely, especially of a time of day.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • He arrived at 10 o'clock, on the dot.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: exactly, on the button, on the nose, sharp

Antonyms: none provided

2

adverb

Meaning 2

just as it should be

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • `Precisely, my lord,' he said

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: precisely, exactly, on the nose, on the button

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

15 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: تَماماً (tamāman) — exactly
  • Arabic: عالتّكّة (ʕat'takke) — exactly
  • Arabic: تماماً (tamāman) — exactly
  • Catalan: en punt — exactly
  • French: pile — exactly
  • French: tapantes — exactly
  • French: précises — exactly
  • Italian: in punto — exactly
  • Polish: punkt — exactly
  • Russian: ровно (rovno) — exactly
  • Russian: точно (točno) — exactly
  • Spanish: exactamente — exactly
  • Spanish: en punto — exactly
  • Swedish: prick — exactly
  • Swedish: på pricken — exactly