bead up

To form beads or drops. Sweat started to bead up on my forehead as we moved the couch down the steps. Ever since I put that wood stain on the deck, the rainwater beads right up—it's great! Can you hand me a napkin? In this heat, there's a lot of condensation beading up on my drink.

draw a bead on (someone or something)

1. To aim at someone or something with the sights on a firearm. I managed to draw a bead on the enemy sniper, but had to wait until I received the order to fire. No, his movements are too erratic—I can't draw a bead on him without endangering passersby. Draw a bead on the animal and then fire!

2. By extension, to focus one's attention on someone or something so as to deal with or attack him, her, or it. The candidate drew a bead on his opponent's poor political record in the UN during the debate. The president has pledged to draw a bead on the growing problem of adolescent obesity. We need to draw a bead on truancy in the school district before it spirals totally out of control.

3. To thoroughly understand, appreciate, or comprehend someone or something. The team just has to draw a bead on the severity of the cyber attack before we can implement any meaningful fixes. I couldn't get my head around him at first, but I'm finally starting to draw a bead on my sister's boyfriend. You've played this game, right? I'm still trying to draw a bead on the wizard's mysterious comments.

See also: bead, draw, on

get a bead on (someone or something)

1. To aim at someone or something with the sights on a firearm. I managed to get a bead on the enemy sniper but had to wait until I received the order to fire. No, his movements are too erratic—I can't get a bead on him without endangering passersby. Get a bead on the animal and then fire!

2. By extension, to focus one's attention on someone or something so as to deal with or attack him, her, or it. The candidate got a bead on his opponent's poor political record during the debate. The president has pledged to get a bead on the growing problem of adolescent obesity. We need to get a bead on truancy in the school district before it spirals totally out of control.

3. To thoroughly understand, appreciate, or comprehend someone or something. The team just has to get a bead on the severity of the cyber attack before we can implement any meaningful fixes. I couldn't understand him at first, but I'm finally starting to get a bead on my sister's boyfriend. You've played this game, right? I'm still trying to get a bead on the wizard's mysterious comments.

take a bead on (someone or something)

1. To aim at someone or something with the sights on a firearm. I managed to take a bead on the enemy sniper but had to wait until I received the order to fire.

2. By extension, to focus one's attention on someone or something so as to deal with or attack him, her, or it. The candidate took a bead on his opponent's poor political record during the debate. The president has pledged to take a bead on the growing problem of adolescent obesity.

3. To thoroughly understand, appreciate, or comprehend someone or something. The team just has to take a bead on the severity of the cyber attack before we can implement any meaningful fixes. I couldn't understand him at first, but I'm finally starting to take a bead on my sister's boyfriend.

draw a bead on someone or something

and get a bead on someone or something

1. . Lit. to locate someone or something in the sights of a gun. Fred drew a bead on the target and pulled the trigger. The hunter drew a bead on the deer.

2. Fig. to prepare to deal with or obtain someone or something. As soon as I get a bead on how widespread the problem really is, I will set up a meeting about it.

See also: bead, draw, on

draw a bead on

Take careful aim, as in The debater drew a bead on his opponent. This term, dating from about 1830, alludes to the bead on a revolver or rifle, that is, a small knob in the foresight. [c. 1930]

See also: bead, draw, on

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

draw a bead on someone/something

take a bead on someone/something

mainly AMERICAN

If you draw a bead on a target, you aim your weapon at it. He had entered my office with a loaded gun and had drawn a bead on my heart. The small pale eyes squeezed shut as if he were taking a bead on her. Note: The bead is the small marker on top of the end of the barrel on some guns, which is used to aim at the target.

See also: bead, draw, on, someone, something

draw (or get) a bead on

take aim at with a gun. chiefly North American

1994 Ontario Out of Doors Few moose will pose majestically right at the water's edge while you draw a bead on them.

See also: bead, draw, on

bead up

To form into the shape of a bead; come together in droplets: Because I just waxed my car, the rain beaded up its surface as it fell. Sweat started to bead up on my forehead.

draw a bead on (someone), to

To take careful verbal aim at a person. An Americanism dating from about 1830, the term comes from aiming a revolver or rifle, on which the “bead” was a small knob on the foresight. It was being used figuratively by about 1930.