to draw a bead on
1
8.8
- phrasal verb
- Informal
:
apuntar
- Without another thought, he drew a bead on the second man and smoothly pulled the trigger.
Examples
-
170 Terminal Rooftop 170: A sharpshooter draws a bead on the opening door.
Fiction book (1992) -
As the elk appeared in the clearing, he slowly drew a bead on it, ensuring he was steady.
-
He draws a bead on the animal.
Fiction book (1993) -
As I closed the distance, Irma drew a bead on me from her lair by her master's door.
Fiction book (1995) -
He was just drawing a bead on my right eyeball when my brain got back in gear.
Fiction book (1993) -
On the roof of the second truck, a gunman draws a bead on Siegel as he advances on the tree.
Fiction book (1991) -
He lowers his gun and tries to draw a bead on Fouchet and the gang.
Fiction book (1995) -
Lieutenant Manuel Hernandez Galvan tapped my shoulder and drew a bead on me with his head.
Fiction book (1996) -
He took a deep breath and drew a bead on the target before firing.
-
With the sniper rifle resting on the window ledge, she carefully drew a bead on the getaway car.
Synonyms
256
1.0
To point a weapon or object at a target
31
3.5
Point a weapon, camera, or object at a target to get ready to use it
19
7.9
To look through a gun's device to aim at something
18
4.1
Direct attention, effort, or criticism toward a target
To carefully aim at or watch a target
How Accurate
123
4.0
44
4.2
- Informal
1
8.8
115
2.6
31
3.5
99
1.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is motivated by literal aiming (to 'draw' a sight and align a small 'bead' on a target), so there is a compositional link to aiming/targeting. However, the sense of 'bead' as a sighting dot is specialized and not the common meaning of 'bead' for most B1 learners, so the overall meaning is only partially predictable without prior exposure.
Etymology
Draw a bead on comes from shooting. The bead is the small round front sight on a gun, and to draw a bead on something meant lining that sight up with a target to 'aim' carefully.