From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishalight on/upon something phrasal verb formalto suddenly think of or notice something or someone His mind alighted on several possible answers. → alight→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
alight on/upon • At least we are much nearer than we were in the era your rose-coloured glasses have alighted upon.• As her torch toured the room it alighted on an extraordinary sight.• Towards the central area of trees and bushes starlings streamed, alighting on branches which swayed under the weight.• As more and more moths alight on her dress, she becomes increasingly hysterical.• Then a great orange-and - black butterfly alighted on her knee.• Five or six sparrows instantly alighted on my arms and head, gripping my skin with their bony little claws.• The photographer's glance alights on small details of foliage or suddenly sweeps upwards to the open sky.• Spitfire about to alight on Wasp's deck. 