hot on the trail
Close behind quarry
Hot on the trail means actively pursuing someone or something with good chances of success—close behind and gaining.
The phrase comes from hunting, where a hot trail retains fresh scent.
Police are hot on the trail of the suspects.
Researchers are hot on the trail of a breakthrough.
- in hot pursuitAggressively following a fleeing target
- uncoveringRevealing something hidden
- smoking gunIrrefutable proof of wrongdoing
- chasingFollowing to catch
- detectingPerceiving something present
tracking · locating · sleuthing · on the case · following · relentless · driven · pinpointing · quarry · resolute · pursuing · scent · zealous · persistent · finding · hound · focused · identifying
- pursuitchase, chasing, pursuit, chase down, pursue
hot on the trailcold trail
dead end · miles away · back to square one · nowhere near · at a loss
hot on the trailcold case
Unsolved crime, investigation suspended
dead in the water · at a standstill · stalled · going nowhere · stuck
hotter, hottest, hotly, hotness, trail, trails, trailed, trailing, trailer