zero in on
Idioms-
Aim precisely at a target, as in They zeroed in on the last snipers . [c. 1940]
-
Direct one's attention to, concentrate or focus on, as in We must zero in on the exact combination of ingredients , or The whole class zeroed in on the new assignment . This usage transfers aiming a firearm to directing one's attention. [Mid-1900s]
-
Converge on, close in on, as in The children zeroed in on the electric train display . [Mid-1900s]
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Curators, writers, actors and directors met several times a week to zero in on each piece, shaping it beat-by-beat while searching for its emotional pulse.
From Los Angeles Times
Aedes aegypti zero in on humans and tend to poke multiples times before taking blood.
From Los Angeles Times
"There's a wonderful relationship between the mother and daughter, and we really tried to zero in on the emotional horror, like to really make you feel it," Williamson said.
From Barron's
While many in the industry zero in on turning a profit, Zelos is taking advantage of Alibaba’s artificial-intelligence capacity and logistics network to leapfrog its technology.
While Martin reigned supreme on the top charts — and as his hypnotic music video circulated across the popular MTV channel — the mainstream media would zero in on more than his music.
From Los Angeles Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
