home in en · VERB
Etymology
The phrase originates in military use in the early 20th century, apparently by analogy with the older term homing pigeon. From the 1960s it is also found in the mistaken variant hone in. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hone+in
Meanings
- (of an aircraft or guided missile, often, with 'on') To draw close to a destination, especially using radar; to move towards a target.
-
(often, with 'on') To focus or narrow down to something; to find, draw closer or move towards, as by trial and error or a gradual seeking process.
The eagle homed in for the kill.
He used the clues to home in on the source of the flames.
We are homing in on a solution.
Homing in on the way someone presents can help you imitate them; for instance, some prefer to get right down to business, focusing on data and facts.
2020 December 21, Bryan Lufkin, “How 'linguistic mirroring' can make you more convincing”, in BBC, archived from the original on 05 Mar 2021:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| hone in | alternative, proscribed | lexicographic | |
| homes in | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic | |
| homing in | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| homed in | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| homed in | Tense=Past | lexicographic |
Coordinates
lock in · lock in · lock on · lock on
Relateds
Synonyms
Translations (7)
de sich dem Zielgebiet nähern (1. to draw close to a destination) · de Kurs nehmen (2. to draw closer or move towards) · pl celować (1. to draw close to a destination) · de (in Richtung) ... einschwenken (2. to draw closer or move towards) · pl wycelować (1. to draw close to a destination) · pl celować (2. to draw closer or move towards) · pl wycelować (2. to draw closer or move towards)