Hot on the trail Meaning in English

expression

US

HAWT on thuh TRAYL

UK

HOT on thuh TRAYL

Definition

If you are "hot on the trail," you are very close to finding or catching someone or something you are searching for, often after following clues.

Usage & Nuances

This is an idiomatic, informal phrase, most often used in detective stories, mysteries, and figuratively in everyday speech. You can say someone is 'hot on the trail' of a criminal, answer, or opportunity. Not used for literal temperature or physical trails.

• Spanish: pisándole los talones - tras la pista
• Portuguese (BR): no encalço - no rastro
• Portuguese (PT): no encalço - no rasto
• Chinese (Simplified): 紧追不舍 - 紧跟线索
• Chinese (Traditional): 緊追不捨 - 緊跟線索
• Hindi: बहुत करीब पहुँच जाना - सुराग़ पर होना
• Arabic: يتعقب عن كثب - على أثر
• Bengali: খোঁজে ঘনিষ্ঠভাবে লেগে থাকা - সূত্রের কাছাকাছি যাওয়া
• Russian: по горячим следам - почти нашли
• Japanese: すぐそばまで迫っている - 解決目前である
• Vietnamese: bám sát dấu vết - sắp tìm ra
• Korean: 바짝 뒤쫓다 - 거의 다 찾다
• Turkish: izinde olmak - sonuca çok yakın olmak
• Urdu: قریب پہنچنا - سراغ پر ہونا
• Indonesian: mengejar jejak dengan dekat - hampir menemukan

Example Sentences

The police are hot on the trail of the stolen car.

basic

The detective is hot on the trail of the suspect.

basic

Reporters are hot on the trail of the big story.

basic

We’re hot on the trail now—just one more clue and we'll solve it!

natural

Social media detectives are hot on the trail of the latest celebrity scandal.

natural

I lost my keys, but now I think I’m hot on the trail—they must be around here somewhere.

natural