light (up)on someone or something

light (up)on someone or something
light (up)on someone or something
1. Lit. to land on someone or something; to settle on someone or something. (

Upon

is formal and less commonly used than

on

.) •

Three butterf lies lit on the baby, causing her to shriek with delight.

The bees lit on the clover blossom and pulled it to the ground.

Her glance lit upon a dress in the store window.

2. Fig. to arrive at something by chance; to happen upon something. •

The committee lit upon a solution that pleased almost everyone.

We just happened to light upon this idea as we were talking to each other.


Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.

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