light on

light on — phrasal verb

  • light onbase form
  • lights on3rd person singular
  • lighting on-ing form
  • lit onpast simple
  • lighted onpast participle

1. to notice or discover something unexpectedly.

1.片語動詞及物C1
釋義

to notice or discover something unexpectedly.

例句

Mira lit on a useful clue while sorting the old photos.

lit on + something found by chance

The researcher lighted on a forgotten map in the archive.

同義詞
  • come across

    the most natural everyday phrase for finding something by chance

  • stumble on

    informal and often suggests a surprising accidental discovery

  • discover

    broader and does not always mean the finding was accidental

反義詞
  • overlook

    to fail to notice something instead of finding it

文法句型

light on + something

light upon + something

lit on + something

用法筆記

This is a formal or literary phrasal verb. In everyday speech, people usually say 'come across', 'find', or 'discover by chance'. Do not use it for the separate phrase 'light on cash', meaning having little money.

常見錯誤

❌The bag is light on books.
✅The bag has few books.
💡this entry means finding something by chance, not having a small amount.