(right) under (one's) (very) nose
1. In a place easy to see or find. I've been looking all over for that invitation, and it was right under my nose the whole time! Mom, I found your glasses! They were right under our noses this whole time. I keep my most important documents right under my nose so I remember to update them every day.
2. When one is physically present. I can't believe that one of my employees was falsifying records right under my nose. It seems that some of my students have been copying each other's test answers right under my very nose. I think my cleaning woman stole my bracelet. And I was home on Tuesday too, so she did it under my very nose!
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
(right) under someone's (very) nose
1. Fig. right in front of someone. I thought I'd lost my purse, but it was sitting on the table under my very nose. How did Mary fail to see the book? It was right under her nose.
2. Fig. in someone's presence. The thief stole Jim's wallet right under his nose. The jewels were stolen from under the very noses of the security guards.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
under (someone's) nose
In plain view: The keys are right under your nose.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.