hit on

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hit on (third-person singular simple present hits on, present participle hitting on, simple past and past participle hit on)

1. (transitive, slang) To flirt with; to approach and speak to (someone), seeking romance, love, sex, etc.

   Synonyms: proposition, come on, pass

   • 2003 September 23, Bill Amend, FoxTrot (comic):

     Don Iguan: I have slithered the world over in search of beauty such as yours! Perhaps you'd like to come back to my lair this evening. I'll light some candles... put on some beetle music...
     Mom: I'm married. Go hit on your sister.

   That's the third guy that has hit on her tonight.

   Guys are hitting on them almost all the time.

2. (transitive, idiomatic) To discover, pinpoint; to think up; to realize.

   He hit on a great idea for improving the design.

• hit upon

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