zero in on
Idioms-
Aim precisely at a target, as in They zeroed in on the last snipers . [c. 1940]
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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]
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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.
U.S. officials said a key goal of the discussions this year is to zero in on ways to make “technology work for and not against democracy.”
From Washington Times
The Biden administration wants to use the two-day summit that begins Wednesday to zero in on making “technology work for and not against democracy,” according to a senior administration official.
From Seattle Times
“If they want to zero in on public safety, which we of course are perfectly focused on, then the Congress should fund more District prosecutors at the United States Attorney Office, and not just to deal with the January 6th cases,” Bowser said.
From Washington Post
The point is to zero in on instances in which there is an ongoing use of a weapon and where there’s a chance for intervention to affect the outcome.
From Washington Times
On Excel, users can quickly analyze large data sets or zero in on specific data points.
From Washington Post
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.
