hit the nail on the head

(v.) To do something perfectly, to give a textbook answer to a question that shows you grasp the concept at hand.

Why does this car not work?


Because it's a ford!


You've hit the nail on the head.

by Kung-Fu Jesus June 23, 2004

like a nail in the head

An analogy for obvious. This was originally coined by a pharmacy professor at the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio. The professor was referring to Phineas Gage, a 19th century railroad worker, who suffered a freak accident when an explosion catapulted a large piece of iron through his skull and into his frontal lobes. An injury that was anything but subtle.

Professor: "what's an antibiotic used for?"

Student Bob: "Uh, there is an inhibitory, Uh, upregulation and, Uh half life ..."

Professor: "An antibiotic kills bacteria. Bob, the answer was like a nail in the head and somehow you completely missed it"

by MeDavebo October 7, 2008

you hit the nail on the head

You are 100% dam right

You dam right, , you hit the nail on the head

by Faisal Ali October 17, 2020

hitting the nail too squarely on the head

Expressing oneself too directly, too plainly, insensitively.

I once considered buying a birthday card for my dad that made fun of his age. My dad was in his late 60's. It portrayed a man in a car looking in a rear-view mirror with a panicked expression, and seeing the Grim Reaper. The message printed on the mirror was, "Objects shown in mirror may be closer than they appear." I thought it was hilarious, but I thought it was "hitting the nail too squarely on the head." It's implication was too direct.

by kwebb1265 October 21, 2010

Nailed it on the head

When your drunk and try to combine nailed it and hit the nail in the head.

Person 1: wsssup man
Person 2: your drunk dude
Person 1: wow you really nailed it on the head with that one
Person 2: your retarted

by Harry Potter vs seal boy 17 December 14, 2024