Cool MateIn plain sight vs Under my very nose
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
In plain sight
Top 3,000 (common)
Under my very nose
InformalBeyond 10,000 (less common)
Most formal: In plain sightMost common: In plain sight
| In plain sight | Under my very nose | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ɪn pleɪn saɪt//🇺🇸 //ɪn pleɪn saɪt// | 🇬🇧 //ˈʌndə maɪ ˈvɛri nəʊz//🇺🇸 //ˈʌndər maɪ ˈvɛri noʊz// |
| Meaning | Visible and easily seen | Right in front of me, and I didn't notice. |
| Example | The treasure was hidden in plain sight, right under their noses. | He stole my sandwich right under my very nose! |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 3,000 (common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| Collocations | hide in plain sight, kept in plain sight, found in plain sight | right under my very nose, happen under my very nose, see it under my very nose |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'out of sight', which means not visible., Using it to describe something not actually visible., Misplacing it in sentences requiring a more complex structure. | Using it in overly formal contexts., Confusing with 'right under my nose' which has a similar meaning. |
| Usage notes | Used when something is clearly visible. Common in everyday conversation but also can be used in more formal contexts. | Used in everyday conversation to express surprise that something happened without being noticed. It's informal, so it might not be suited for formal writing or speech. |
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Frequently asked questions: In plain sight vs Under my very nose
What's the difference between In plain sight and Under my very nose?
In plain sight: Visible and easily seen Under my very nose: Right in front of me, and I didn't notice.
Which is more formal: In plain sight and Under my very nose?
In plain sight is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: In plain sight and Under my very nose?
In plain sight is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
In plain sight: The treasure was hidden in plain sight, right under their noses. Under my very nose: He stole my sandwich right under my very nose!
Can I use In plain sight and Under my very nose interchangeably?
Not always. In plain sight and Under my very nose are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.