on·to 
/ˈɑ:ntʊ/ preposition
/ˈɑ:ntʊ/ preposition 1 : to a position that is on (something, such as a surface, area, or object)
▪ We climbed onto the building's roof. ▪ The book fell onto the floor. ▪ The water spilled onto the floor. ▪ The cowboy leaped onto his horse. ▪ Transfer the data onto a disk. ▪ Turn left onto Third Street at the traffic light. — often used figuratively ▪ Don't try to shift the blame onto me. [=don't try to blame me instead of the person who should be blamed] 2 : in a direction that allows you to get to or see (something)
▪ The door opens onto a balcony. [=when you go through the door you are on a balcony] ▪ The dining hall opens onto a courtyard. [=you can enter the courtyard from the dining hall] ▪ The bedroom window looks (out) onto the bay. 3 a — used to say that someone knows about what someone is doing or has done ▪ The police are onto them. [=the police know what they did or are doing]
b — used to say that someone is becoming aware of or is finding something ▪ Scientists believe they are onto something big. [=scientists believe they are close to making an important discovery] ▪ When the crowd responded to the show so positively, we realized we were onto something. [=we had done/discovered something important, special, etc.] 4 chiefly Brit : in the process of talking to (someone) usually to tell or ask something
▪ My parents are onto me again about getting a job.
▪ We climbed onto the building's roof. ▪ The book fell onto the floor. ▪ The water spilled onto the floor. ▪ The cowboy leaped onto his horse. ▪ Transfer the data onto a disk. ▪ Turn left onto Third Street at the traffic light. — often used figuratively ▪ Don't try to shift the blame onto me. [=don't try to blame me instead of the person who should be blamed]
▪ The door opens onto a balcony. [=when you go through the door you are on a balcony] ▪ The dining hall opens onto a courtyard. [=you can enter the courtyard from the dining hall] ▪ The bedroom window looks (out) onto the bay.
b — used to say that someone is becoming aware of or is finding something ▪ Scientists believe they are onto something big. [=scientists believe they are close to making an important discovery] ▪ When the crowd responded to the show so positively, we realized we were onto something. [=we had done/discovered something important, special, etc.]
▪ My parents are onto me again about getting a job.
