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While giving directions, does it make any difference if we say e.g.

The nearest restaurant is just around the corner.

Or

The nearest restaurant is just on the corner.

I've checked for possible duplicates but just found a question concerning at and on the corner while using dummy subjects it and there.

Thanks

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2 Answers 2

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Round the corner is an idiomatic expression meaning:

  • very near here: There's a ​great ​restaurant just round the ​corner.

also:

(just) around the corner:

  • not ​far away, or going to ​happen ​soon: There's a ​great ​restaurant just around the corner. I'm ​feeling a little ​depressed at the ​moment, but I'm ​sure good ​times are just around the corner.

on/at the corner meaning is literal.

Note also the expression:

On/at every corner:

  • in many ​places along the ​streets of a ​town or ​city: After the ​game, ​police were ​stationed on every ​corner.

(Cambridge Dictionary)

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  • 1
    Round 10 o' clock means about 10 o' clock.
    – user5267
    Commented Apr 10, 2016 at 10:41
  • Aha, then 'around' means almost but not exacly 'on the corner'. Thanks got my answer.
    – Yuri
    Commented Apr 10, 2016 at 10:41
  • 2
    The idea of "around" is "just passed the corner" suggesting a close location.
    – user5267
    Commented Apr 10, 2016 at 10:43
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When you say:

The nearest restaurant is just around the corner.

it is implied to be directions (you are not there), so envision the movement to the corner and past it. around indicates this. If you check the definition of around as a preposition, several will work depending on exact context.

The nearest restaurant is just on the corner.

In this example you have a fixed location (on the corner being a specific place), so only on is needed. You would not use just in this context, as there is no time/action reference. More context maybe...

I was just on the corner, so I don't know why I did not see the restaurant.

It works here because I can move.

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  • No problem. Possibly you meant addition not edition, though.
    – user3169
    Commented Apr 10, 2016 at 20:41
  • Now, that you brought it up, both then :) actually I meant the part you said don't use just you crossed it out from my original example.
    – Yuri
    Commented Apr 10, 2016 at 21:06
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    Got it. Then, you would write "Thanks for the edit."
    – user3169
    Commented Apr 10, 2016 at 21:10

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