Explaining "If it were a snake, it would have bit you"

Reviewed and edited by

Anwar Kareem 20/12/2024, 12:04

English.me team member

What does it mean?

If it were a snake, it would have bit you

An expression used to tell someone that the object they're searching for is in plain sight, but they've overlooked it.

Tone

Playful and mildly sarcastic, often used in a friendly or teasing manner.

Origin

This phrase originates from American colloquial speech and is often used humorously or lightly to point out someone's oversight when missing something right in front of them.

Examples of usage

After minutes of searching for her phone, she found it on the table. Her friend laughed, "If it were a snake, it would have bit you!"
He couldn't find the book he was reading, only to see it beside him. "If it were a snake, it would have bit you," his sister joked.
Looking for his car keys, he didn't notice them hanging by the door. "If it were a snake, it would have bit me," he thought.