draw a bead on

Idioms  

1. Take careful aim, as in The debater drew a bead on his opponent. This term, dating from about 1830, alludes to the bead on a revolver or rifle, that is, a small knob in the foresight. [c. 1930]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

draw a bead on

Difficult to draw a bead on the Buccaneers.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 17, 2024

In the amorphous twilight of the Afghan war, it isn’t enough to draw a bead on the enemy.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 20, 2016

He may be the first president of my lifetime who comedians have never been able to draw a bead on the way they could with every other Oval Office occupant of the last 50 years.

From Salon ● Jun. 18, 2016

Just as we would draw a bead on one, it would change course.

From New York Times ● Feb. 10, 2016

Then she’d whirl and be gone before I could draw a bead on her.

From "Old Yeller" by Fred Gipson