pivot

pivot around (something)

1. Literally, to rotate on and around some centered focal point. This car seat pivots around a fixed point, allowing you to get your baby or toddler in and out of the car with much less hassle. He pivoted around the heel of his left foot to do a roundhouse kick nearly 180 degrees behind him.

2. To depend on or revolve entirely around some key thing. The product's success is going to pivot around whether or not people feel comfortable linking their home appliances to the internet. Our entire marketing campaign pivots around this television ad, so we have to make sure it is written and cast perfectly.

3. To grow, develop, or spring from some focal point or idea. The entire film pivots around the income gap in our country and how it became so extreme.

See also: around, pivot

pivot on (something)

1. Literally, to rotate on and around some centered focal point. This car seat pivots on a fixed point, allowing you to get your baby or toddler in and out of the car with much less hassle. He pivoted on the heel of his left foot to do a roundhouse kick nearly 180 degrees behind him.

2. To depend on or revolve entirely around some key thing. The product's success is going to pivot on whether or not people feel comfortable linking their home appliances to the internet. Our entire marketing campaign pivots on this television ad, so we have to make sure it is written and cast perfectly.

3. To grow, develop, or spring from some focal point or idea. The entire film pivots on the income gap in our country and how it became so extreme.

See also: on, pivot

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

pivot on something

to rotate on something; to spin around, centered on something. This part spins around and pivots on this little red spot, which is what they call a jewel. If the lever will not pivot on the bar, it needs some lubrication.

See also: on, pivot

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

pivot on

or pivot around

v.

1. To rotate or spin around while remaining centered on some point: The chair pivots on a steel post.

2. To depend on something or someone for success or failure: This business deal pivots on whether or not we are willing to change the name of our product.

3. To develop from a central idea: The plot of the show pivots on the effects of drug addiction.

See also: on, pivot

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.