on (one)
1. Being one's responsibility or obligation. My team just designs the products. It falls on the marketing team to figure out how to advertise them. The obligation to provide evidence is on the prosecution.
2. Being one's fault. Sorry, I'm the one who put the wrong kind of paper in the machine. That one's on me! If you're late to the test, that's on you—you will be locked out of the testing room at 8:00 AM sharp.
3. Persistently nagging one. A: "What is the boss on you for now?" B: "Alphabetizing those stupid files." My mom's always on me about folding my laundry and putting it away, but it's so much easier to just get what I need out of the basket.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
*(up)on someone
Fig. to be someone's obligation or responsibility. (*Typically: be ~; lie ~.) The obligation is upon you to settle this. The major part of the responsibility is on you.
*on someone or something
[incriminating or harmful information] about someone or something. (*Typically: get something ~; have something ~; give someone something~.) I've gotten something on Albert that would really shock you. She is trying to get something on her husband so she can divorce him.
on something
1. taking a medication. I am on an antibiotic for my chest cold. I want you to be on this drug for another week.
2. taking an illegal drug or controlled substance and acting strangely. What is the matter with that kid? Is he on something? She acted as if she were on barbiturates or something.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
on
/at the dot Exactly at the appointed time; punctual or punctually: arrived at nine o'clock on the dot.
on
/at the double1. Immediately.
2. In double time.
on
/in behalf of1. As the agent of; on the part of.
2. For the benefit of; in the interest of.
on
/in the street1. Without a job; idle.
2. Without a home; homeless.
3. Out of prison; at liberty.
on
/into/down the wind Nautical In the same or nearly the same direction as the wind.
on
/under pain of Subject to the penalty of (a specified punishment, such as death).
on
/upon (one's) hands In one's possession, often as an imposed responsibility or burden: Now they have the grandchildren on their hands.
on
/upon request When asked for: References are available on request.
on
/upon the heels of1. Directly behind.
2. Immediately following.
on
(one's)/the way In the process of coming, going, or traveling: She is on her way out the door. Winter is on the way.
on
its/someone's ear In a state of amazement, excitement, or uproar: a controversial movie that set the film industry on its ear.
on one
/the one hand As one point of view; from one standpoint.
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.