be onto (one)
1. To have knowledge, be suspicious, or be aware of one's actions, behavior, or intention. You'd better tread carefully—I'm onto you now. The police are onto us! Everybody run! The FBI is onto us now? Oh man, we're doomed!
2. To be in contact with one at a given point in time. I'll be onto you tomorrow about the details of our meeting. I was onto John yesterday about where he wants to go for his birthday. Look, I was onto Grandma earlier, and she really doesn't want to do anything big for her birthday.
be onto (something)
To discover, realize, or be in the process of doing something of great importance, value, or insight. Great work on this essay, Lindsay. I really think you're onto something here. Scientists now believe they may be onto a cure for cancer. Please tell me you're onto a solution because we're running out of time!
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
be on to
1. Be aware of or have information about, as in They can't pull that trick again; we're on to them now. [Colloquial; second half of 1800s]
2. Discover something important or profitable, as in The researchers claim they are really on to something big. [Colloquial; mid-1900s]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.