drive at

British  

verb

1. informal (intr, preposition) to intend or mean

   what are you driving at?

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drive at Idioms  

1. Mean to do or say, as in I don't understand what he's driving at. Today this idiom, first recorded in 1579, is used mainly with the participle driving.

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Example Sentences

If he was slow to react, PSG would drop an attacker deep, who could then get on the ball, turn and drive at the defence, with space between him and an out-of-position Konate.

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026

“But we are aiming for that level four autonomy, where you don’t have to drive at all.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 13, 2026

This would drive massive route-density economics, and could drive at least $500 million in synergies for both companies.

From Barron's • Jan. 16, 2026

Some officers will undergo a one-day course in responding to emergency calls in police vans, while others will spend three days being shown how to drive at the start of a pursuit.

From BBC • Jan. 7, 2026

“Well, you notice the teacher don’t always call on somebody with his hand up. She lets drive at the others and, sure enough, they don’t know.”

From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck