dar en el clavo
verbUpper-intermediate
What does “dar en el clavo” mean in English?
to hit the nail on the head, to identify the issue precisely
to hit the nail on the head, to identify the issue precisely (accuracy of insight or diagnosis)
Example sentences
Has dado en el clavo: el problema no es el presupuesto, es la falta de liderazgo.
You've hit the nail on the head: the problem isn't the budget, it's the lack of leadership.
El análisis da en el clavo al señalar la descoordinación interinstitucional como causa raíz.
The analysis hits the nail on the head by identifying inter-institutional discoordination as the root cause.
No sé si he dado en el clavo o si me estoy perdiendo algo importante.
I don't know if I've hit the nail on the head or if I'm missing something important.
How to use it
Dar en el clavo (literally 'to hit the nail on the head') means exactly that in English — to identify the core issue precisely. It is used to express that someone has made an accurate diagnosis or formulation of a problem. Construction: dar en el clavo (intransitive) or dar en el clavo al + infinitive. Unlike acertar (to get right), dar en el clavo implies insight and precision in articulation, not just correctness.
Common mistake
Dar en el clavo ≠ tener razón (to be right in a general sense). Dar en el clavo is specifically about precise identification of an issue. Note: it's en el clavo, not *en el clavo (always masculine), and the preposition is en, not *a or *con.
Topics
Related Upper-intermediate words
Reference
This entry’s teaching guidance follows Plan Curricular del Instituto Cervantes (Instituto Cervantes), B2 Funciones 5.9.