be on to

verb

To figure out; to realize the truth.

“I was planning it as a surprise, but I think he is on to me.”

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Meanings

verbbe on to (third-person singular simple present is on to, present participle being on to, simple past was on to, past participle been on to)

present singular third person is on to · participle present being on to · past was on to · participle past been on to

  1. idiomaticTo figure out; to realize the truth.

    I was planning it as a surprise, but I think he is on to me.

Cite this entry
APA

be on to. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/be%20on%20to

MLA

“be on to.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/be%20on%20to. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “be on to,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/be%20on%20to.

Source: be on to on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.