hit (one) (right) between the eyes
To suddenly become obvious or apparent to one. After days of struggling to come up with a solution, one finally hit me right between the eyes this morning.
hit someone (right) between the eyes
1. Lit. to strike someone between the eyes. The baseball hit her right between the eyes.
2. Fig. to become completely apparent; to surprise or impress someone. Suddenly, it hit me right between the eyes. John and Mary were in love. Then—as he was talking—the exact nature of the evil plan hit me right between the eyes. The realization of what had happened hit me between the eyes.
hit between the eyes
Make someone suddenly aware of something, have a sudden impact on. For example, News of their divorce hit me right between the eyes. [Colloquial; early 1900s]