X marks the spot
Pirate map saying
X marks the spot is a phrase indicating the precise location of something sought—originally treasure on a pirate map, now any target or destination.
The phrase signals that you've found exactly what you're looking for: X marks the spot where the body was buried.
It plays on the convention of using an X as a simple, unmistakable marker.
- treasureValued wealth or keepsake
- treasure mapGuide to hidden loot
- mapSpatial representation of terrain
- pirateMaritime thief or bootlegger
- pirate shipSeafaring raiders' vessel
buried · buried treasure · dig · dig site · gold · hunt · cross · location · target · bullseye · chest · island · desert island · adventure · compass · clue · secret · discovery
- treasure huntingmetal detecting, beachcombing, geocaching, gold panning, prospecting
- nauticalanchor, anchor chain, anchors, boat, boats
- treasure huntstreasure, treasure chest, treasure map, clue, clues
- hidden treasureburied gold, pirate loot, sunken chest, sunken treasure, treasure chest
X marks the spotlost
Unable to navigate
nowhere to be found · uncharted territory · hidden · undiscovered · unlocated
X marks the spotback to square one
Return to the beginning
wild goose chase · back to the drawing board · empty-handed · come up empty · striking out
mark, marks, marked, marking, marker, markers, remark, remarkable, remarkably