dials in
Gets it right
Dials in means to adjust something precisely until it's exactly right.
The image is of turning a dial to find the perfect setting: Once we dialed in the recipe, every batch came out perfect.
In sports and gaming, someone who's dialed in is performing with focused accuracy: She was completely dialed in during the second half.
The phrase suggests fine-tuning through small incremental adjustments rather than dramatic changes.
- phone numberNumeric calling address
- radio stationFacility transmitting audio programming
- adjustsAlters for improvement
- calibratesAdjusts for accuracy
- sharpensMakes cutting edge keener
fine-tunes · concentrates · laser focus · targets · tunes in · locks in · refines · connects · achieves · streamlines · knobs · synchronizes · sliders · configures · gauges · executes · masters · on point
dials inmisses the mark
Fails to achieve aim
overshoots · undershoots · wings it · fumbles · botches
dials inzones out
Becomes mentally absent
tunes out · spaces out · checks out · mails it in · drifts off
dials inloses control
Fails to manage oneself
flounders · spirals · falls apart · unravels · goes haywire
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