hit on

USAGE SUMMARY

"hit on" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used informally to describe when someone attempts to establish a romantic or sexual relationship with someone else. For example: "He tried to hit on her, but she wasn't interested."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

You actually hit on something there.

The New York Times - Magazine

Broad hit on right foot by Johnson.

BBC

Marclay hit on a solution.

The New Yorker

I thought I'd hit on something".

The New York Times

Then sequestration hit on March 1.

The New York Times

They have a runaway hit on Broadway.

The New York Times

Bank shares took a hit on Thursday.

The New York Times

Ehrenfeld then hit on a novel strategy.

The New Yorker

God Yes, you've hit on it!

The New Yorker

He remains a hit on college campuses.

The New York Times

(Brando, not surprisingly, hit on her).

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "hit on" in professional or academic writing specifically for the discovery of solutions, as this usage is widely accepted in high-authority sources like The New Yorker and academic journals.

Common error

Avoid using "hit on" when describing physical contact if the phrasing could be misconstrued as a romantic advance. For instance, 'He hit on the athlete' usually implies flirting, whereas 'He hit the athlete on the arm' clarifies the physical nature of the contact.

Linguistic Context

As noted by Ludwig, "hit on" acts as a polysemous phrasal verb. Its primary function is to link a subject (the discoverer or the admirer) to an object (the idea or the person being flirted with). In its literal sense, it functions as a verb followed by a preposition to indicate the specific site of physical contact or the timing of an event.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "hit on" is a highly flexible English phrase that Ludwig data shows is used in three distinct ways: social flirting, intellectual discovery, and literal impact. The Ludwig AI highlights its widespread use in top-tier publications, where it serves as a concise way to describe finding a solution or realizing a strategy. Writers should feel confident using it in most settings, provided they maintain clarity through context. Whether you are describing a breakthrough idea in a business proposal or an informal social interaction, "hit on" remains a staple of modern idiomatic English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

come on to

Directly synonymous with the romantic or sexual advance meaning.

flirt with

More general and less slangy way to describe showing romantic interest.

stumble upon

Fits the 'intellectual discovery' sense of finding an idea by chance.

strike on

An older or more formal variant of hitting on a solution or idea.

think up

Focuses more on the deliberate creation of an idea rather than a sudden realization.

make a move on

Describes taking a more active or aggressive step in a romantic context.

happen upon

A more formal way to describe discovering a solution accidentally.

conceive of

A formal academic alternative for the discovery of a concept or scheme.

target

Used when 'hit on' refers to a specific objective in an attack or strategy.

impact

A formal alternative for literal or economic situations where something hits a mark.

FAQs

What does it mean to "hit on" someone?

To "hit on" someone is an informal way to say you are showing romantic or sexual interest in them. You might also use phrases like "flirt with" or "come on to" depending on the intensity of the situation.

Can "hit on" be used for a discovery or idea?

Yes, "hit on" is frequently used to describe the moment someone realizes a solution or thinks of a new concept. In these cases, it is synonymous with "stumble upon" or "think up".

Is "hit on" considered formal English?

It is neutral but leans toward informal in romantic contexts. However, in the sense of finding a solution (e.g., 'they hit on a strategy'), it is commonly seen in formal publications like The New York Times and The Guardian. For very formal reports, consider using "devised" instead.

How is "hit on" different from just "hit"?

While "hit" usually refers to physical impact, "hit on" is a phrasal verb with specific idiomatic meanings. If you want to describe a physical location of an impact, use "hit the mark" or specify the area, such as 'hit on the head'.