set (one's) sights on (someone or something)

set (one's) sights on (someone or something)

To identify, regard, or focus on someone or something as one's goal. Every since she was a little girl, Janet has set her sights on being a fighter pilot. They're setting their sights on you to be their new head of marketing.See also: on, set, sight

set one's sights on someone or something

Fig. to regard having someone or something as one's goal. He wanted a wife and he had set his sights on Alice. James set his sights on a law degree.See also: on, set, sight

set one's sights on

Have as a goal, as in She's set her sights on law school. This expression alludes to the device on a firearm used for taking aim. [Mid-1900s] See also: on, set, sight

set your sights on something

COMMON If you set your sights on something, you decide that you want it and try very hard to get it. Note: The sights on a weapon such as a rifle are the part that helps you to aim it more accurately. Although she came from a family of bankers, Franklin set her sights on a career in scientific research. Gareth Jenkins and his assistant, Alan Lewis, have clearly set their sights on winning the championship. Note: You can also say that someone has their sights on something or has their sights set on it if they have decided that they want that thing. Brand and Torrance had their sights on the £111,000 first prize. With his football career coming to an end, Sibley now has his sights set on a TV career. Note: You can say that someone sets their sights high when they try to get something that is hard to achieve. If you say that someone sets their sights low, you mean that they do not try to achieve as much as they could. Why do these young people so often end up in low-status, poorly paid jobs? Is it that they don't set their sights high enough? The study criticized car makers for setting their sights too low and with being content to build cars which are just adequate. Note: This expression are also used literally to say that someone is looking at a target through the sights of a gun. See also: on, set, sight, something

set your sights on

have as an ambition; hope strongly to achieve or reach. 1996 Home Within ten minutes I had made an offer…But another couple has also set their sights on the cottage, so sealed bids were submitted. See also: on, set, sight

set your ˈsights on something/on doing something

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have your sights ˈset on something/on doing something

try to achieve or get something: She’s set her sights on an Olympic gold. ♢ He has his sights on owning the biggest property company in the USA.You look through the sights of a gun to aim at the target.See also: on, set, sight, something

set (one's) sights on

To have as a goal: She set her sights on medical school.See also: on, set, sight