(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!

under your nose

COMMON If something, especially a bad thing, happens under your nose, it happens in your presence or very near to you, and you either do not notice it or cannot do anything to stop it. I became convinced that something sinister was taking place right under my nose. Then suddenly I knew what had been going on here all along, right under our noses. Note: You can also say that someone takes something from under your nose, meaning that they steal it in your presence or very near to you, and you either do not notice it or cannot do anything to stop it. The prisoners stole it from under the noses of two red-faced police officers.