Home in on means lock onto a target or focus on one thing: the team homed in on one possible cause of the fault, picking one theory out of many. Think of a homing missile that guides itself to its target. It can be literal too: a camera helps you home in on a distant object. Many people say hone in on, but in an essay home is the safe choice.
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home in on a target / problem / detail
- The interview quickly homed in on her research experience.
- The team homed in on one possible cause of the fault.
- The camera helps the operator home in on a distant object.
What changed
First versionThe questions homed in at the missing payment.
RevisionThe questions homed in on the missing payment.
Aim at and look at make at feel natural: homed in at the payment. But this phrase uses in on: homed in on the missing payment.
Focus on simply means concentrate. Home in on means narrow down step by step until you hit one point: the doctor homed in on the cause. Zero in on is a near synonym. Hone your skills means sharpen them, and that's a different verb.
Your turn
Complete the expression for targeting attention: The discussion homed in ___ the main obstacle.
Show the answer
on — The target is introduced by in on: homed in on the main obstacle. At comes from aim at, but it doesn't fit here.
Describe how you looked for the cause of a problem and finally homed in on one explanation.
After reviewing several possibilities, the team homed in on a faulty sensor.
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