X marks the spot
Suggest a CorrectionMeaning
A precise indicator of where something important lies.
Origin
From 19th-century pirate lore, popularized by Robert Louis Stevenson's 1883 'Treasure Island,' where an 'X' on a map marks buried gold-a trope from sailors' yarns. Earlier, 17th-century maps used crosses for landmarks, but Stevenson's X stuck. By the 1900s, it was slang for any key spot.
Usage Examples
- Dig here; X marks the spot on this old map!
- She said X marks the spot where we first met.
- In this puzzle, X marks the spot for the answer.
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