Idiom
hit the spot
Meaning
To be particularly pleasing or appropriate; to be just right.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Examples
“That cold drink really hit the spot.”
“A warm bowl of soup hits the spot on a rainy day.”
“This new sofa hits the spot in our small living room.”
“After walking for hours in the heat, the iced coffee hit the spot perfectly.”
“I was feeling very stressed, but a long phone call with my sister really hit the spot and made me feel much better.”
“Your honest feedback about my presentation hit the spot because I finally understand what I need to change for next time.”
“The quiet jazz bar, with its worn leather seats and soft amber light, hit the spot for a weary traveler seeking refuge from the city's chaos.”
Examples
simple
“That cold drink really hit the spot.”
“A warm bowl of soup hits the spot on a rainy day.”
“This new sofa hits the spot in our small living room.”
contextual
“After walking for hours in the heat, the iced coffee hit the spot perfectly.”
“I was feeling very stressed, but a long phone call with my sister really hit the spot and made me feel much better.”
“Your honest feedback about my presentation hit the spot because I finally understand what I need to change for next time.”
complex
“The quiet jazz bar, with its worn leather seats and soft amber light, hit the spot for a weary traveler seeking refuge from the city's chaos.”
Origin
Attested from the mid-19th century, the idiom likely reflects either a target-shooting metaphor or a variation on the older concept of scratching an itch. While the original imagery of striking a physical mark or relieving a specific irritation has largely faded from the modern speaker's perception, the construction persists as a standard expression of precise satisfaction.
Key words
Related idioms
- Updated