Hit the nail on the head
/hɪt ðə neɪl ɒn ðə hed/neutral, informalUK · US
What does “Hit the nail on the head” mean?
Hit the nail on the head means to describe or identify something exactly right.
This is a compliment on someone's accuracy. It is used about a diagnosis, an explanation or a phrase that captures something precisely.
It is safe in almost any context, including polite professional conversation.
When do people say it?
Said in response to someone who has summarised a situation perfectly.
“You've hit the nail on the head, the problem isn't the price, it's the delivery time.”
Is it formal or informal?
Register: neutral, informal. It is most at home in both everyday conversation and professional writing. Most common in UK and US.
Where does it come from?
In English since at least the sixteenth century, from carpentry.
Origin confidence: Well documented
How do you say “Hit the nail on the head” in other languages?
Related idioms
- The elephant in the room, An obvious issue nobody mentions.
Last updated 2026-09-11