A mahout mounts his elephant during the three-day elephant race at Chitwan National Park in Nepal. Picture: Navesh Chitrakar / Reuters
Today's Phrase
If something is 'on the nose', it is exactly right. The phrase is often used when talking about numbers or money, as shown in the examples.
Examples
A: How much do you think my new TV cost?
B: £300?
A: Yes, on the nose! It cost £300.
A: Your mother must be about 60 years old?
B: You got it on the nose. She's 60. But I don't think she looks that old.
B: £300?
A: Yes, on the nose! It cost £300.
A: Your mother must be about 60 years old?
B: You got it on the nose. She's 60. But I don't think she looks that old.
Take note
Get up someone's nose. If someone or something gets up your nose, it annoys you.
Mary is always talking about her wonderful prize-winning dog. To be honest it gets up my nose.
It gets up my nose when people play their music loudly on public transport.
It gets up my nose when people play their music loudly on public transport.
Interesting fact
A 'mahout' is someone who keeps and drives elephants for a living. Traditionally, mahouts are paired with elephants when both are at a young age and they grow up together, in many cases forming a lifelong bond.