Using "On" Correctly

Exclamations

Right on!
Ah, go on!
Not on your life!

Noun phrases

A chip on your shoulder
A come-on
A play on words
A price on my head

Adjective phrases

(to be) big on something
(to be) dead on your feet
(to be) quick on the trigger
(to be) right on the money
(to be) down on your luck

Verb phrases

(To) call on the carpet
(To) climb on the bandwagon
(To) get a fix on
(To) go on record
(To) have an edge on
(To) have egg on your face
(To) have glasses on
(To) have on hand
(To) knock on wood
(To) land on your feet
(To) lay it on the line
(To) lay it on thick
(To) lie down on the job
(To) live on borrowed time
Not (to) have a leg to stand on
(To) pat on the back
(To) pour oil on troubled waters
(To) put on the dog
(To) rest on your laurels
(To) ride her on
(To) set the world on fire
(To) sit on the fence
(To) stand on ceremony
(To) stand on one’s own feet
(To) step on one’s toes
(To) take it on faith
(To) think on one’s heels
(To) walk on air

Prepositional phrases (literal and figurative)

On the desk
On the bed
On the lake
On the chair
On the lam
On the wall
On a lark
On the blink

Two-part verbs

Act on
Bank on
Bent on
Call on
Carry on
Cash in on
Catch on
Cheat on
Come on
Egg on
Figure on
Get on
Go on
Hand on
Happen on
Have on
Hit on
Hold on
Pass on
Pick on
Plan on
Put on
Rock on
Score on
Sign on
Take on
Take off on
Tell on

Specific surface

On the bike
On the ceiling
On the chair
On the counter
On a cushion
On the edge
On your feet
On the floor
On the rim
On the seat
On my skin
On the glass
On the ground
On the head
On the hook
On the lawn
On a log
On the page
On a slide
On the spider
On the tray
On the paper

Recipient of attention or action

A slur on your reputation
All eyes were on him.
Sara depends on me.
The drinks are on the house.
The drinks are on me.
The joke is on you.

Location – general or figurative

On a committee
On a hill
On a hunt
On a limb
On a mission
On a pedestal
On a picnic
On a string
On account
On board
On the playground
On the phone
On fire
On tour
On top of
On TV
On the air
On the egg
On the first floor
On the holds
On the front steps
On the line
On the road
On the spot

Meaning “around”

The puppy had a ribbon on its neck.
A bandana on his head
A watch on his wrist

In close proximity to

A cottage on the ocean
A villa on the Riviera
A restaurant on the river
We live on Maple Street.

Time (specific moment)

On the dot of 2:00
On time
On the hour

Time frame

Later on
On Sunday
On the weekend
On your break
On a day like this
On a winter’s day

Conveyance

On the bus
On a horse
On a plane
On your own
On foot
On the elevator

In what manner

On a dime
On the edge
On the money
On the brink
Coming on
On an even keel

Means or medium

(Cut myself) on a knife
(Made money) on the deal
(Live) on a shoestring
On TV
On my own

Reason or basis (answers why or how)

On a whim
On a bet
On good authority
On account of
On approval

State or condition (answers what)

On the blink
On the fritz
On the level
On the nose
On edge
On call
On my own
The light is on.

Other uses

Degree or amount (answers how much)

Ten cents on a dollar
Made a quarter on every sale.

Reduplication

He suffered headache on headache.

Continuance

Off and on
Off again, on again
On it goes
And so on

Meaning about

A book on bugs
A book on snakes
A lesson on prepositions
A debate on nuclear war
A magazine on health

*Source Unknown