HONE IN


Meaning of HONE IN in English

transcription, транскрипция: [ intransitive verb ]

Etymology: alteration of home in

Date: 1965

: to move toward or focus attention on an objective

looking back for the ball honing in — George Plimpton

a missile honing in on its target — Bob Greene

hones in on the plights and victories of the common man — Lisa Russell

Usage:

The few commentators who have noticed hone in consider it to be a mistake for home in. It may have arisen from home in by the weakening of the m sound to n or may perhaps simply be due to the influence of hone. Though it seems to have established itself in American English (and mention in a British usage book suggests it is used in British English too), your use of it especially in writing is likely to be called a mistake. Home in or in figurative use zero in does nicely.

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.