draw a bead on

draw a bead on
verb
1. aim with a gun
-

The hunter drew a bead on the rabbit

• Hypernyms: ↑aim, ↑take, ↑train, ↑take aim, ↑direct
• Verb Frames:
-

Somebody ——s something

2. have an ambitious plan or a lofty goal
• Syn: ↑aspire, ↑aim, ↑shoot for
• Derivationally related forms: ↑aspirant (for: ↑aspire), ↑aspiration (for: ↑aspire), ↑aspirer (for: ↑aspire)
• Hypernyms: ↑plan, ↑be after
• Hyponyms: ↑overshoot
• Verb Frames:
-

Somebody ——s to INFINITIVE

-

Somebody ——s something

 (for: ↑shoot for)
-

Somebody ——s something

* * *

phrasal
: to bring into line with the front sight and rear sight of a rifle : take aim at; broadly : use as a target

always ready to draw a bead on an errant public official

* * *

draw a bead on (informal)
To take aim at
• • •
Main Entry: ↑bead
————————
draw a bead on see under ↑bead
• • •
Main Entry: ↑draw

* * *

I draw (or get) a bead on
take aim at
II
see bead

* * *

draw a bead on (also US get a bead on or take a bead on)
: to aim at (someone or something)

He lifted the rifle and carefully drew a bead on the target.

— often used figuratively

The government is drawing a bead on inflation. [=is targeting inflation]

It's hard to get a bead on [=to understand] the reasons for her decision.

• • •
Main Entry: ↑bead
————————
draw a bead on — see ↑bead
• • •
Main Entry: ↑draw

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • draw a bead on — To draw a bead on is to aim a gun at something and can be used to mean to focus on or aim at someting as a goal …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • draw a bead on — ► draw a bead on chiefly N. Amer. take aim at with a gun. Main Entry: ↑bead …   English terms dictionary

  • draw a bead on — {v. phr.} {informal} 1. To aim at; sight (with a gun). * /The deer bounded into the forest before the hunters could draw a bead on them./ * /John drew a bead on the elk, but didn t have the heart to pull the trigger./ 2. To take (something) as an …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • draw a bead on — {v. phr.} {informal} 1. To aim at; sight (with a gun). * /The deer bounded into the forest before the hunters could draw a bead on them./ * /John drew a bead on the elk, but didn t have the heart to pull the trigger./ 2. To take (something) as an …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • draw\ a\ bead\ on — v. phr. informal 1. To aim at; sight (with a gun). The deer bounded into the forest before the hunters could draw a bead on them. John drew a bead on the elk, but didn t have the heart to pull the trigger. 2. To take (smth) as an aim or goal. I m …   Словарь американских идиом

  • draw a bead on —    to shoot at or kill    The bead is the foresight of an old style rifle, rather than the bullet:     I am going to draw a bead on this gentleman. I am preparing an operation to liquidate him. (Goebbels, 1945, in translation he was particularly… …   How not to say what you mean: A dictionary of euphemisms

  • draw a bead on — draw/take a bead on (someone/something) American to aim a gun at someone or something. He drew a bead on the last truck in line and fired at the fuel tank …   New idioms dictionary

  • draw a bead on — get a bead on I drew a bead on the figure in the attic window Syn: aim at, fix on, focus on, zero in on, sight …   Thesaurus of popular words

  • draw a bead on — verb To aim a gun at something Syn: take a bead on …   Wiktionary

  • draw a bead on someone — draw/take a bead on (someone/something) American to aim a gun at someone or something. He drew a bead on the last truck in line and fired at the fuel tank …   New idioms dictionary

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