to draw a bead on
- phrasal verb
:
fijar la atención en
- She drew a bead on her goals for the year, focusing on achieving them one by one.
Examples
-
JP turns to face the pillar, drawing a bead on Pinhead.
Fiction book (1992) -
"Do I have to?" "I'm here because she didn't want to do this alone." "But you just said everything that matters has to be done alone!" I was still the star pupil, aggressively blasting holes in everyone else's argument so no one could draw a bead on mine.
Fiction book (1991) -
The hunter carefully drew a bead on the deer in the clearing.
-
Before taking the shot, the sniper drew a bead on the target to ensure accuracy.
Synonyms
∞
1.0
To show or direct attention to something
∞
2.0
Give most attention and effort to one person or task
821
2.9
To direct an action or message at people
245
1.8
To point something like light or attention at a target
55
3.1
To fix your eyes or attention on one thing
44
4.2
To give most attention to one person or thing
31
3.5
Point a weapon, camera, or object at a target to get ready to use it
30
3.9
To try to reach a big, difficult goal
18
4.1
Direct attention, effort, or criticism toward a target
To carefully aim at or watch a target
Antonyms
How Focused
44
4.2
∞
2.0
821
2.9
∞
1.1
∞
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 is a picture from aiming with a gun that turned into a way to talk about goals. When you imagine lining a small bead on one thing, it helps remember that to draw a bead on a person or plan means to 'focus on' them or make them your target.