hit the bull's-eye


Also, hit the mark or the nail on the head. Be absolutely right, as in Your remark about finances hit the bull's-eye, or Jane hit the mark with her idea for shuffling personnel, or The governor's speech on attracting new businesses hit the nail on the head. The round black center of a target has been called a bull's-eye since the 17th century; mark similarly alludes to a target; and the analogy to driving home a nail by hitting it on its head dates from the 16th century. Also see off the mark.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.