[General] be on it

[vil]

Dear teachers,

Would you be kind enough to tell me whether I am right with my interpretation of the expression in bold in the following sentence?

You bet he could cook. He was just on it.

be on it = be master in doing something

Thanks for your efforts.

Regards,

V

 

[sarat_106]

Dear teachers,

Would you be kind enough to tell me whether I am right with my interpretation of the expression in bold in the following sentence?

You bet he could cook. He was just on it.

be on it = be master in doing something= put one's heart and soul on the job or put sincere efforts and hard work to complete a task

Thanks for your efforts.

Regards,

V

I my openion it is slightly different as indicated in blue.

 

[vil]

Hi sarat 106,

Thank you for your subtlety interpretation of the phrase in question.

What do you think of the following usages?

Pard, he was on it! He was on it bigger than an Red American Indian! (from Twain's "The Innocents at Home"

In San Francisco sometimes, if you offend a man he proposed to take his coat off, and inquires “are you on it”? (from Twain's "Letters from the Sandwich Islands")

be on it = be ready for something (in my original post above “He was ready to be a chef.”

Regards,

V.

 

[sarat_106]

Hi sarat 106,

Thank you for your subtlety interpretation of the phrase in question.

What do you think of the following usages?

Pard, he was on it! He was on it bigger than an Red American Indian! (from Twain's "The Innocents at Home"

In San Francisco sometimes, if you offend a man he proposed to take his coat off, and inquires “are you on it”? (from Twain's "Letters from the Sandwich Islands")

be on it = be ready for something (in my original post above “He was ready to be a chef.”

Regards,

V.

I feel, this meaning is more appropriate.