Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

hit the spot

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.77 in modern English

Syllables: hit the spot
IPA

18

Scrabble Score

10

Letters

1

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To be particularly pleasing or appropriate; to be just right.

Informal

Example Sentences

"Some ice cold lemonade would hit the spot on a warm afternoon."
"Even in the Midwestern summer heat, Al’s dogs hit the spot. Chicago is indisputably a hot-dog town, and there may be no better time than summer to feel that sunshine in your hands."

Etymology

Likely originally reflecting either the same metaphor as scratch the itch or a shooting-at-a-target metaphor, although not always perceived through those lenses anymore.

Usage

Informal

Inflected Forms

hits the spot (present, singular) hitting the spot (participle, present)

Synonyms

scratch the itch scratch an itch hit the button

Questions

What does hit the spot mean?: To be particularly pleasing or appropriate; to be just right.
Where does hit the spot come from?: Likely originally reflecting either the same metaphor as scratch the itch or a shooting-at-a-target metaphor, although not always perceived through those lenses anymore.

How to pronounce hit the spot

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