Phrase guide

under someone's nose

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

Directly in front of one; clearly visible.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • I searched for my glasses for twenty minutes, and finally found them right under my nose.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

prep_phrase

Meaning 2

Obvious or apparent.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • If we had paid more attention, we would have found that answer was under our noses the whole time.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

18 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Danish: for næsen af — visible
  • Finnish: nenän edestä — visible
  • French: au nez et à la barbe — visible
  • Italian: sotto il proprio naso — visible
  • Malay: depan hidung — visible
  • Portuguese: debaixo do nariz — visible
  • Russian: под но́сом (pod nósom) — visible
  • Arabic: واضح — obvious
  • Arabic: جَلِيّ (jaliyy) — obvious
  • Danish: for næsen af — obvious
  • Dutch: voor de hand liggend — obvious
  • Finnish: nenän edessä — obvious
  • French: sous le nez de — obvious
  • Italian: sotto il proprio naso — obvious
  • Italian: davanti ai propri occhi — obvious
  • Italian: davanti il proprio naso — obvious
  • Portuguese: debaixo do nariz — obvious
  • Russian: под но́сом (pod nósom) — obvious