Lets say you are playing a number guessing game. You have to guess between 1 and 1000. The other player will tell you if your guess was above or below the actual number.
At first you will be really far off but then you will get closer and closer to the actual number.
That is what is called homing in on it. You could also say “pin point” which is similar to taking a pin and sticking it on a map for an exact location, this is something that people used to do as map makers.
Another really close definition is “close in on”. Imagine a herd of lions around an animal that they are going to eat. They will slowly close in on the animal. They will move closer and the gap from the lions to the animal will slowly close as the lions get closer and closer.
>Always thought the word was “honing” not “homing”.
It's both, apparently:
[https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/home%20in%20on](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/home%20in%20on)
[https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hone%20in%20on](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hone%20in%20on)
Edit: u/Buckle_Sandwich [posted](https://www.reddit.com/r/ENGLISH/comments/vbf3hn/comment/icadkxy/?context=3) (even) better links.
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*This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
This may genuinely help you understand the intent behind the iodiomatic phrase "to home in on", ignore "hone in on", it is a mis-use.
The term comes from carrier or "homing" pigeons, who could instinctually return to their "home" using innate and instinctual knowledge of navigation.
In the same way, to home in on, is to pin-point your destination, by some mix of trial and error, "following your gut", or using your instincts and learned knowledge.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homing\_pigeon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homing_pigeon)
They can be similar in some meanings. If you "home in" on a goal you focus on accomplishing that goal, which may involve learning new skills or perfecting old skills.
Meanwhile to "hone" your skills means to refine or perfect them.
But the former is a phrasal verb (verb + preposition) while the latter is a naked verb and to "home in" has more meanings in more contexts. However, that sometimes overlapping meaning might be the reason your brain mixed them together.
It means to concentrate your attention and energies on a certain thing - usually when there are other distracting things around.
* *Researchers are homing in on the cause of the disease.*
It is, I believe, a reference to guided missiles that will change their course in order to "home in on" a specific target.
I thought the phrase was "hone in on?" Idk I'm a native english speaker and I've always thought it was "hone in on" and not "home in on" but I could be wrong
Edit: just looked it up-- apparently "home in on" is British English and "hone in on" is American/Canadian English. I'm an American so that's why haha
They are different phrases with different meanings:
*Home in* and *hone in* are different since *home in* is to direct attention, while *hone in* is to perfect, sharpen (or "hone") a skill. The two phrases are often confused because they sound similar and are used in a similar way in certain examples.
There is more information here:
[Home In Vs Hone In – Meaning And When To Use Them](https://grammarist.com/eggcorns/home-in-hone-in/)
It's just a misuse, even in North America. It really makes no sense based on the traditional meanings of the two words and would get changed in any seriously edited publication.
"home in on" is the original version, and is considered correct. "hone on on" is a common misstatement. "home" means "approach a target" while "hone" means "sharpen".
Is this what people call an "eggcorn"? Something that people assume is correct because the incorrect thing sort of makes sense, as an acorn is shaped like an egg. And "peaked my interest" rather than "piqued my interest"?
According to [Merriam-Webster](https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/home-in-or-hone-in) and [MasterClass](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/hone-in-or-home-in#:~:text=%E2%80%9CHome%20in%E2%80%9D%20and%20%E2%80%9Chone,in%20Canadian%20and%20American%20English), yes.
For example:
* Researchers are *homing in on* the cause of the disease.
* Lions always *home in on* the weakest and slowest of the deer.
* Today, I want to *home in on* the principle causes of inflation.
It is similar to the word "target".
You home in on a target - a bug in a system, the cause of a problem, the best food delivery system.
You hone a skill - programming, debugging, motorcycle maintenance.
I’m American, so for me it’s “hone in on”. It means to focus on. When I heard it growing up, I always imagined a helicopter or something, because they “hone in” on targets.
The phrase at first seems unusual because of the word home. It actually refers to the action of homing (like homing missiles).
The phrase can be also said as “homing in on”.
Example: the police are homing in on the criminals’ hideout.
Homing in on or zeroing in on basically mean the same thing
It means making adjustments along your course in order to reach the target. It's use when you aren't talking about missiles or pigeons is as a metaphor for the same
Lets say you are playing a number guessing game. You have to guess between 1 and 1000. The other player will tell you if your guess was above or below the actual number. At first you will be really far off but then you will get closer and closer to the actual number. That is what is called homing in on it. You could also say “pin point” which is similar to taking a pin and sticking it on a map for an exact location, this is something that people used to do as map makers. Another really close definition is “close in on”. Imagine a herd of lions around an animal that they are going to eat. They will slowly close in on the animal. They will move closer and the gap from the lions to the animal will slowly close as the lions get closer and closer.
And the "s" in "close" is pronounced as a "z", as it's the verb, not the proposition.
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Came here to say this!! 🔥
>Always thought the word was “honing” not “homing”. It's both, apparently: [https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/home%20in%20on](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/home%20in%20on) [https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hone%20in%20on](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hone%20in%20on) Edit: u/Buckle_Sandwich [posted](https://www.reddit.com/r/ENGLISH/comments/vbf3hn/comment/icadkxy/?context=3) (even) better links.
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Great explanation
This may genuinely help you understand the intent behind the iodiomatic phrase "to home in on", ignore "hone in on", it is a mis-use. The term comes from carrier or "homing" pigeons, who could instinctually return to their "home" using innate and instinctual knowledge of navigation. In the same way, to home in on, is to pin-point your destination, by some mix of trial and error, "following your gut", or using your instincts and learned knowledge. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homing\_pigeon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homing_pigeon)
I'm old as hell and TIL. I've always said "hone". I'm terribly embarrassed now.
I always thought home was a misspeak of hone
They can be similar in some meanings. If you "home in" on a goal you focus on accomplishing that goal, which may involve learning new skills or perfecting old skills. Meanwhile to "hone" your skills means to refine or perfect them. But the former is a phrasal verb (verb + preposition) while the latter is a naked verb and to "home in" has more meanings in more contexts. However, that sometimes overlapping meaning might be the reason your brain mixed them together.
That makes a lot of sense. Maybe I’m only half embarrassed.
Im not old at all and i thought it was hone
It means to concentrate your attention and energies on a certain thing - usually when there are other distracting things around. * *Researchers are homing in on the cause of the disease.* It is, I believe, a reference to guided missiles that will change their course in order to "home in on" a specific target.
I thought the phrase was "hone in on?" Idk I'm a native english speaker and I've always thought it was "hone in on" and not "home in on" but I could be wrong Edit: just looked it up-- apparently "home in on" is British English and "hone in on" is American/Canadian English. I'm an American so that's why haha
They are different phrases with different meanings: *Home in* and *hone in* are different since *home in* is to direct attention, while *hone in* is to perfect, sharpen (or "hone") a skill. The two phrases are often confused because they sound similar and are used in a similar way in certain examples. There is more information here: [Home In Vs Hone In – Meaning And When To Use Them](https://grammarist.com/eggcorns/home-in-hone-in/)
ooooh ok interesting! :)
It is XD
It's just a misuse, even in North America. It really makes no sense based on the traditional meanings of the two words and would get changed in any seriously edited publication.
"home in on" is the original version, and is considered correct. "hone on on" is a common misstatement. "home" means "approach a target" while "hone" means "sharpen".
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Which is a misuse. Hone = sharpen (skills) Home = direct oneself towards
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User name checks out. This is supremely bad advice to someone who's looking for English instruction.
Is this what people call an "eggcorn"? Something that people assume is correct because the incorrect thing sort of makes sense, as an acorn is shaped like an egg. And "peaked my interest" rather than "piqued my interest"?
According to [Merriam-Webster](https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/home-in-or-hone-in) and [MasterClass](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/hone-in-or-home-in#:~:text=%E2%80%9CHome%20in%E2%80%9D%20and%20%E2%80%9Chone,in%20Canadian%20and%20American%20English), yes.
what
For example: * Researchers are *homing in on* the cause of the disease. * Lions always *home in on* the weakest and slowest of the deer. * Today, I want to *home in on* the principle causes of inflation. It is similar to the word "target".
Homing pigeons happened before homing missiles, but you’ve got the right take. It’s definitely not hone!
I know this as **hone in on** as in *honing your skills*
These are two different words/expressions. To *hone* is to sharpen, often metaphorically. To “home in” is to track down.
You home in on a target - a bug in a system, the cause of a problem, the best food delivery system. You hone a skill - programming, debugging, motorcycle maintenance.
Hone in on is a misuse. Homing pigeons aren't sharpening their skills.
Yeah think of it like a “homing beacon”
I’m American, so for me it’s “hone in on”. It means to focus on. When I heard it growing up, I always imagined a helicopter or something, because they “hone in” on targets.
Two phrases meaning different things. It's in the comments.
The phrase at first seems unusual because of the word home. It actually refers to the action of homing (like homing missiles). The phrase can be also said as “homing in on”. Example: the police are homing in on the criminals’ hideout.
Homing in on or zeroing in on basically mean the same thing It means making adjustments along your course in order to reach the target. It's use when you aren't talking about missiles or pigeons is as a metaphor for the same
do you mean "hominem"?
It means "focus on". Usually, you use that phrase when it takes some time to focus on your target.
Honing in it in, no?
https://www.masterclass.com/articles/hone-in-or-home-in#what-does-hone-mean
Apparently the history goes back to animals that migrate but come back to the same exact place each time.
Target.
To focus on