Under one’s nose is an idiom that has been in use for centuries. We will examine the meaning of the common saying under one’s nose, where it came from, and some examples of its idiomatic usage in sentences.
Something that is under one’s nose is obvious, hard to miss, or easily available and yet, the person does not notice it. Usually, one fails to notice something that is under one’s nose due to distraction or stress. The expression under one’s nose has been in use since the 1400s and alludes to a situation in which the thing one is seeking is so close, it is literally under one’s nose, certainly close enough to be seen if one were paying attention.
Examples
My personal wine goal of the year has been to seek out wines right under my nose that weren’t on my radar before, and it has been a bonafide abbondanza of pleasure. (Forbes Magazine)
Head of the Blue Downs police cluster Vincent Beaton said: “I am totally embarrassed that this all happened under my nose. (Independent)
“This stuff was right under my nose, I just never really knew about it,” Mrva said. (Valley Breeze)
Here are some idioms we covered: