set one's sights

English

Alternative forms

• set sights

Pronunciation

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Verb

set one's sights (third-person singular simple present sets one's sights, present participle setting one's sights, simple past and past participle set one's sights)

1. To give one's close attention to, especially as a goal, objective, or other object of special interest. [with on]

   to set one's sights high

   • 1984 October 30, “Pocket of Atlanta Fights Developers”, in New York Times, retrieved 1 August 2015:

     Spurred by a real estate boom in which houses that sold for $15,000 just six years ago now sell for upwards of $150,000, the developers have set their sights on Cabbagetown.

   • 2006 November 1, Steve Rosenbush, “Is a Google-Clear Channel deal at hand?”, in Businessweek, retrieved 1 August 2015:

     Google, known for its cutting-edge Internet software, may be setting its sights on the low-tech radio market.

   • 2008 June 27, “Blair Campaigns for Climate Action”, in Time, retrieved 1 August 2015:

     Blair has also set his sights on solving another insolvable problem during his retirement: climate change.

Further reading

• “set ones sights on something”, in Collins English Dictionary.
• “set your sights on sth”, in Cambridge English Dictionary, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: Cambridge University Press, 1999–present.
• “set one's sights”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.
• “set sights on” in Idioms and phrases, TheFreeDictionary.com, Huntingdon Valley, Pa.: Farlex, Inc., 2003–2024.
• “set your sights high” in Idioms and phrases, TheFreeDictionary.com, Huntingdon Valley, Pa.: Farlex, Inc., 2003–2024.