DRAW A BEAD ON

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does draw a bead on mean? 

• DRAW A BEAD ON (verb)
  The verb DRAW A BEAD ON has 2 senses:

1. aim with a gun

2. have an ambitious plan or a lofty goal

  Familiarity information: DRAW A BEAD ON used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DRAW A BEAD ON (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Aim with a gun

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Context example:

The hunter drew a bead on the rabbit

Hypernyms (to "draw a bead on" is one way to...):

aim; direct; take; take aim; train (point or cause to go (blows, weapons, or objects such as photographic equipment) towards)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Have an ambitious plan or a lofty goal

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

aim; aspire; draw a bead on; shoot for

Hypernyms (to "draw a bead on" is one way to...):

be after; plan (have the will and intention to carry out some action)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "draw a bead on"):

overshoot (aim too high)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE