hit the spot

Meaning

This idiom is used to describe food or drink that is extremely satisfying and exactly what you needed at that moment. It implies that the item perfectly satisfied your hunger, thirst, craving, or fatigue. It is a very common, positive, and casual expression.

Examples

• That cold glass of lemonade really hit the spot after our long walk.

  That cold glass of lemonade really hit the spot after our long walk.

• A hot bowl of chicken noodle soup always hits the spot when you have a cold.

  A hot bowl of chicken noodle soup always hits the spot when you have a cold.

• Nothing hits the spot quite like a slice of pizza after a late-night shift.

  Nothing hits the spot quite like a slice of pizza after a late-night shift.

• I was craving chocolate all day, and this brownie really hit the spot.

  I was craving chocolate all day, and this brownie really hit the spot.

• An iced coffee would really hit the spot right now in this heat.

  An iced coffee would really hit the spot right now in this heat.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ The dinner touched the spot.

  ✓ The dinner hit the spot.

  The verb in this idiom is fixed. You cannot replace 'hit' with 'touch' or any other synonym.

• ✗ This drink hit my spot.

  ✓ This drink hit the spot.

  The idiom always uses the definite article 'the' rather than a possessive pronoun like 'my' or 'your'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• A cold beer would really ___ after working in the garden all afternoon.

  💡 Be exactly what is needed to satisfy your thirst.

  Show answer

  hit the spot

• That warm bowl of ramen really ___ on this freezing winter day.

  💡 Perfectly satisfied my hunger and warmed me up.

  Show answer

  hit the spot