home in on

Idioms and Phrases

Move toward or focus on a goal, as in He began with a couple of jokes before homing in on the main subject of his talk . This expression originally alluded to a vessel, aircraft or missile being guided to its target by a radio beam or some other means. [c. 1920]

Example Sentences

Hernández’s closeness to Latin culture lets him home in on what makes Bad Bunny be Bad Bunny.

From Salon

John Roman, a senior fellow at NORC, told Salon that most criminologists home in on the homicide numbers to determine crime rates because local and state jurisdictions' reports of homicides are far more consistent and robust than with other types of violent crime.

From Salon

King’s ability to home in on specific details that also have a universal appeal can be seen throughout her work.

From New York Times

But Johnson believes that people like the Con Queen “have a preternatural ability to home in on any individual’s particular weakness” and that makes any one susceptible.

From Seattle Times

The new sensor enables them to directly observe these changes and home in on how these fluctuations could be contributing to the disease.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• apply oneself to
• attend (to)
• concentrate
• engage
• fixate
• pay attention to
• pore over