🎯 Aiming lines 👀 Target of focus

crosshairs

7.2

The main target of attention or criticism

noun
/ˈkrɔsˌhɛrz/

: en la mira

Walmart is now stuck in the crosshairs of this trade war, and they're being threatened by national governments.

What happens when the government has you and its crosshairs and you're the one in the dock?

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Examples

Now, his reporting and expertise have put him in the crosshairs, and he lives under constant threat.
And if you're in the crosshairs, then you catch the heat.
And in so doing, he finds himself in the crosshairs of Mohammed bin Salman.

ReasonTV
After the politician made a controversial statement, she found herself in the crosshairs of public opinion.
The journalist's investigation into corruption put him directly in the crosshairs of those he was exposing.
As the scandal unfolded, the company became the crosshairs of numerous lawsuits and media scrutiny.

Synonyms

target

vscrosshairs

649 3.5

A person chosen for attack or criticism

is the focus of attention more generally, not only when attacked

eye

vscrosshairs

211 7.0

The calm center of an area surrounded by strong wind or activity

is the center of interest when someone is closely watched or attacked

focal point

vscrosshairs

30 3.7

The main person, thing, or idea that gets most attention

is attention centered especially when under scrutiny or attack

center of attention

vscrosshairs

Informal

29 3.2

A person or thing people notice most in a group

is the focus especially when being closely watched or criticized

crosshair

vscrosshairs

23 5.9

A person or thing that is the main target of strong criticism

is a central point of interest that can include scrutiny or attack

firing line

vscrosshairs

Informal

1 5.7

A position where a person faces strong criticism

is the central focus whether or not under pressure or difficulty

Idioms

in the crosshairs

Informal

8 8.2

People are looking closely at and criticizing a person or thing

How Threatened

attack

∞ 1.4

aggro

Jargon

1 9.9

crosshairs

7.2

threat

∞ 2.3

Surface Forms

crosshairs plural

Morphology

crosshairs = crosshair (semi-transparent) = cross + hair + s

The figurative sense ('target of attention') is a metaphorical extension of the literal 'crosshair' meaning and is not directly compositional for all learners.

Etymology

The word crosshairs comes from the same idea of a 'cross' of lines that marks the exact aim point. So when someone is 'in the crosshairs' they are the main 'target' of attention or attack.