home in on
Lock onto precisely
To home in on something is to move toward it with precision, like a homing missile tracking its target.
The phrase extends to focusing attention or narrowing down: Investigators homed in on the suspect, We're homing in on a solution.
Often confused with "hone in on," which some consider an error, though both appear in standard usage.
- lock onAcquire and track automatically
- zero inFocus with precision
- pinpointLocate with exactness
- trackPath or monitored route
- aimPurpose or direction
target acquired · take aim · pursue · fix · direct · sight · close · sniff out · lock · narrow · heat-seeking · triangulate · converge · beacon · zoom · concentrate · target · locate
home in ondrift
Gradual movement, no direction
scatter · meander · lose sight of · stray · lose one's way
home in onshy away from
Avoid through timidity
steer clear of · back off · avoid · evade
home in onlose focus
Attention slips away
lose sight of · zone out · overlook · tune out · neglect
home, homeless, homes, homeland, homer, homesick, hometown, homecoming, homelessness