English Reference
Idiom idiom

take a bead on


To aim a gun at something.

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.


SIMPLE

The hunter takes a bead on the target.

CONTEXTUAL

The soldier takes a bead on the distant post to ensure he is ready for the signal.

COMPLEX

With steady hands and focused eyes, the marksman takes a bead on the small object, waiting for the wind to die down before pulling the trigger.


Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    be taken ill

    To become ill.

  2. 02

    cross to take up

    Alternative form of cross to bear.

  3. 03

    forget to take one's medication this morning

    To be annoyed or irritable, or to behave in an ill-mannered way, particularly in the morning.

  4. 04

    get taken in

    To be fooled; to fall for.

  5. 05

    give and take

    A process of compromise or accommodation.

  6. 06

    give someone an inch and someone will take a mile

    Alternative form of give them an inch and they'll take a mile.

  7. 07

    have one's name taken

    To receive a yellow card.

  8. 08

    I take it

    Used to express one's understanding of another's position.

Last updated August 10, 2026