hone in

[hohn in]

verb phrase

1. to focus one’s attention more narrowly or precisely on a particular task, issue, etc. (usually followed byon ).

   When we started looking for a condo, our agent took time with us to hone in on what we really wanted and needed.

   They run a workshop to help you hone in and understand the parts of the software that are most relevant for you.

2. to find, reach, or strike a target in a precise way, as with a camera, weapon, location device, or other instrument (usually followed byon ).

   They’re working to improve cameras that can hone in on a single object or pick a person out of a crowd.

Usage

Although increasingly common even in educated speech and writing, the expression hone in is in fact a corruption of home in. Home in was used originally of weapons moving toward their target (or “home”) under the control of an automatic aiming mechanism, and became a metaphor for focusing one’s attention on an objective. The similarity in sound between home and hone , and the fact that the basic meaning of the verb hone is “to sharpen,” explain why people use hone in when they’re thinking about “sharpening” their focus or aim. Style guides criticize this use, however, and careful speakers and writers will avoid it.

Word History and Origins

Origin of hone in¹

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

For many of those early starts, the right-hander didn’t even use his full arsenal of pitches, restricting himself to mostly fastballs and sweepers as he tried to hone in on his velocity and sharpen his rusty command.

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“I feel like if a person can relate to it, it’s probably because they are some version of that. And, yeah, it’s exaggerated, but I do and say awkward things all of the time. Fortunately I was able to sort of hone in on portraying, like, ‘What is this thing that I’m experiencing in real life, and how can I sort of exploit this or utilize this?’”

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Stamp was known for his intense dedication to craft, particularly his ability to hone in on the psychological underpinnings of a given character.

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The smaller canvas of the one-act form allowed Greenberg to hone in his theatrical vision.

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“Now you’re starting to hone in on maybe some more advanced game-planning stuff, and being able to cover different parts of the zone.”

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Related Words

• apply oneself to www.thesaurus.com
• concentrate 
• engage 
• fixate 
• pay attention to www.thesaurus.com
• pore over www.thesaurus.com