Alternative for "found something accidentally even when it was lying really close the whole time"

Question

Let me give you an example of the situation where I would like to use this "word/phrase/idiom/expression". A friend of mine who had a laptop for 3 months now accidentally discovers that it is screen-touch enabled when his fingertip brushed against his monitor when he was pointing something to his boss. "Discovered" does seem like a good fit but it sounds pretty dull, at-least in my mind.

I have thought of two phrases: "right under his nose this whole time" and "Eureka Eureka" when I would like to tell this anecdote to someone but I am not sure if it is appropriate in this instance. Also I need alternatives to carry a humorous tone not bothering about if it is a bit exaggerated form.

My mother would have said "If it was a snake it woulda bit you", but that's probably a little too dialect for your purposes. — StoneyB on hiatus, Aug 20 '15 at 12:11
Actually, it's a case of "missed something even when it was lying really close the whole time" rather than one of epiphany -- could be more like aha moment instead. — Kris, Aug 20 '15 at 12:38
Stoney - that's exactly right, and I don't think it's too dialect. Everyone knows that one. — Fattie, Aug 20 '15 at 12:40
@JoeBlow Actually although it would be understood in British English, it is not used there. The only other time I have heard this expression is in the film 'Grease'... — Marv Mills, Aug 20 '15 at 12:46
Hi Marv .. hmm, I wonder why our experience is different. I believe it's pretty common in, for example, Australia. I may be wrong though. Good one, thanks. — Fattie, Aug 20 '15 at 12:51
@JoeBlow I would guess the reason is that in the UK people do not encounter snakes on a common basis. For example, I am over 50 and I have seen an indigenous snake just once in my life in the wild in the UK :) — Marv Mills, Aug 20 '15 at 13:16
Wow, I didn't know there were any! Didn't St Patrick get rid of them or something?? Good point. — Fattie, Aug 20 '15 at 13:37
@JoeBlow No, he was the patron saint of Guiness and the colour Green ;) — Marv Mills, Aug 20 '15 at 13:54
related: What is it called when something appears so obvious, no one expects it? — Mari-Lou A, Aug 23 '15 at 05:16

score 6 · Answer 1 · edited Mar 27 '17 at 14:33

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The phrase 'hidden in plain sight' comes close, in terms of the method of obfuscation, but does not really communicate the accidental location. Still, it may be of some use.

hidden-in-plain-sight

Adjective (not comparable)

That [which] seems to be hidden, but actually is not hidden and is easy to be found

www.yourdictionary.com

edited Mar 27 '17 at 14:33

David Cary

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answered Aug 20 '15 at 12:43

Marv Mills

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Just what Marv said. – Fattie Aug 20 '15 at 12:43

score 5 · Accepted Answer · edited Jun 15 '20 at 07:40

In the actual laptop situation you describe, sometimes "realised" (or "finally realised") makes more sense. You also have "finally noticed".

It's a little clearer than "discovered" which doesn't quite fit. (It's kind of the opposite of a long quest with a discovery at the end ... you know?)

As you already said, "right under his nose this whole time" of course fits perfectly (why are you even asking for another?) And as Stoney's Mother said "If it was a snake, it woulda bit you." (I also like "If it was a snake, it woulda bit you in the ass.")

Note that often the "correct answer" to SWRs is "there is, simply, NOT exactly an SWR for that" ... and/or ... "well yes you've given the best answer already."

Finally, just a note that

"facepalm"

is a (funny, I think) recently popular term that is used in situations like this.

(Interestingly I think you could almost just about start using that as a verb or similar form, for situations such as finding something that was right in front of you ... "I facepalmed my spectacles this morning - they were on my head the whole time!")

Indeed note my marvellous and charming new question here, http://english.stackexchange.com/questions/268099/swr-for-just-now-from-my-hand-lost-an-object — Fattie, Aug 20 '15 at 16:51

score 3 · Answer 3 · answered Aug 20 '15 at 12:50

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Here's an "oldie but goodie":

"He touched the screen and, lo and behold, he realized that it was a "touch-screen" computer."

answered Aug 20 '15 at 12:50

Oldbag

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I wish I had the freedom to accept two answers, so I could have marked yours too. – Jony Agarwal Aug 20 '15 at 15:09

score 2 · Answer 4 · answered Aug 23 '15 at 05:04

2

Duh

It has to be pronounced with a certain intonation (high to low and then a bit up again) and a certain facial expression.

Example: Today I figured out my laptop has a touch screen. Duh! I've only had it for three months!

(The last part is pronounced with sarcasm.)

This would be a way of poking fun at yourself. Duh means it should have been obvious.

answered Aug 23 '15 at 05:04

aparente001

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I just thought of another idea, something having to do with "it was staring me in the face." – aparente001 Aug 23 '15 at 14:32

score 0 · Answer 5 · answered Aug 20 '15 at 12:10

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That would be a serendipitous discovery.

Definition of serendipitous in English:
adjective
Occurring or discovered by chance in a happy or beneficial way:
'a serendipitous encounter'

Reference:
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/serendipitous

answered Aug 20 '15 at 12:10

Bookeater

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that is a good suggestion but it doesn't capture the proximity – Jony Agarwal Aug 20 '15 at 12:28

Alternative for "found something accidentally even when it was lying really close the whole time"

5 Answers5

"facepalm"