The Phrase "I'm on it."

[Jens]

Hi native speakers of AE,

What does the phrase "I'm on it."
as a response to somebody's request exactly mean?

Is it just a short form of "I'm working on it."
or does it rather mean something like "I'll do it."?

What would be the closest "translation"?

On what language level would you use a phrase like that,
like on a scale from 0 (=very informal) to 10 (=very formal)
where would you rate it?

Thanks a lot.

[Rusty]

Hi native speakers of AE,

What does the phrase "I'm on it."
as a response to somebody's request exactly mean?

Is it just a short form of "I'm working on it."
or does it rather mean something like "I'll do it."?

What would be the closest "translation"?

On what language level would you use a phrase like that,
like on a scale from 0 (=very informal) to 10 (=very formal)
where would you rate it?

Thanks a lot.
"I'm working on it," or, "I have noticed it and I am keeping track of it" are the most likely translations. I'd say it's very informal.

[Jens]

Hi native speakers of AE,

What does the phrase "I'm on it."
as a response to somebody's request exactly mean?

Is it just a short form of "I'm working on it."
or does it rather mean something like "I'll do it."?

What would be the closest "translation"?

On what language level would you use a phrase like that,
like on a scale from 0 (=very informal) to 10 (=very formal)
where would you rate it?

Thanks a lot.
"I'm working on it," or, "I have noticed it and I am keeping track of it" are the most likely translations. I'd say it's very informal.

Thanks a lot for your answer.

Considering your second alternative,
I understand that the phrase doesn't necessarily imply "commitment", does it?

So when I'm asking somebody to do something, and (s)he answers with this phrase,
I can't be sure (s)he is really doing or taking care of it. Is that so?

Would you say that this phrase is common, generally understood and accepted
[in AE] in informal situations?

[Rusty]

So when I'm asking somebody to do something, and (s)he answers with this phrase,
I can't be sure (s)he is really doing or taking care of it. Is that so?

The person is being a uncommittal about where (s)he is with the job or the stage of progress, but (s)he wants to answer in the affirmative.

Would you say that this phrase is common, generally understood and accepted
[in AE] in informal situations? Yes, it is very common. Sometimes there is an underlying meaning, "Get off my back. Don't keep nagging me about it." Meaning is often conveyed by a tone of voice.
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