DRAW A BEAD ON

v. phr. informal 1. To aim at; sight (with a gun). The deer bounded into the forest before the hunters could draw a bead on them. John drew a bead on the elk, but didn't have the heart to pull the trigger. 2. To take (something) as an aim or goal. "I'm drawing a bead on the Literary Society president's office," said Tom. 3. To use as a target of attack; criticize. Whenever a politician makes a mistake, his opponents are ready to draw a bead on him.