zero in on
zero in on — phrasal verb
- zero in onbase form
- zeroes in on3rd person singular
- zeroing in on-ing form
- zeroed in onpast simple
1. to point a weapon or camera at a specific target and make small adjustments unti
to point a weapon or camera at a specific target and make small adjustments until the aim is exactly right
The police sniper zeroed in on the driver's-side car window.
zero in on + specific target (weapon context)
Dmitri held his breath as he zeroed in on the deer through the rifle scope.
The photographer's telephoto lens zeroed in on an eagle perched on the cliff.
Security cameras automatically zero in on any movement near the main entrance.
Right before sunset, Keiko zeroed in on Saturn's brightest ring through the telescope.
文法句型
zero in on + noun (the target of a weapon or camera)
用法筆記
This sense describes a process of progressively narrowing the aim, not a single quick action. The subject is typically a person operating a weapon or camera, or an automated targeting system.
常見錯誤
2. to concentrate all of your mental effort on one particular person, problem, or d
to concentrate all of your mental effort on one particular person, problem, or detail, often after sorting through a wider range of possibilities
The detectives finally zeroed in on a single suspect after weeks of interviews.
zero in on + person (investigation context)
Fatima zeroed in on the one spelling error in her eight-page essay.
zero in on + error/detail (precision context)
The auditor zeroed in on three suspicious payments in the records.
Javier blocked out the noise around him and zeroed in on the chessboard.
After the helicopter spotted smoke, the team zeroed in on a small hut near the river.
- focus on
more common and broader; can describe sustained attention without narrowing down
- concentrate on
emphasises sustained mental effort and blocking out distractions
- pinpoint
about identifying something exactly, often a location or cause, without the narrowing-down process
- hone in on
informal variant; many speakers use it interchangeably, but 'zero in on' is preferred in careful writing
文法句型
zero in on + noun (the person or thing receiving attention)
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (AIM DIRECTLY): this sense is about mental focus, not physical pointing. The object is often a problem, detail, suspect, or location being examined rather than a physical target.