on the dot—exactly at a given time; at the precise moment:
- We were to dine with the Prousts at seven and we reached their house on the dot.
Note: The expression is not antonymous in meaning to the phrase off one’s dot—(sl.) crazy or behaving as if mad:
- And you have to act up like they do or they think you’re off your dot.
to the dot—(also: to the letter) exactly; precisely:
- The citizens of Neustadt followed the curfew regulations to the dot.