be in focus
1. To be visually crisp and clear, typically of something seen through a camera or other such adjustable device. Make sure the vase of flowers is in focus. We don't want it to come out blurry in the pictures. There was a security camera that captured the crime, but the perpetrator wasn't in focus, so I'm not sure how helpful it will be. The optician kept adjusting the machine until the eye chart was in focus.
2. To be a central object of interest or activity. The company has been in focus in the news lately because of its alleged involvement with organized crime. Cyber security has got to be in focus for everyone these days. Otherwise, you run the risk of having all your personal information stolen. My sister's engagement should be in focus today. There's no need to talk about my promotion.
3. To be more clearly understood or seen from a new perspective. The importance of environmental conservation is now in focus for a lot of the students, thanks to Chelsea's passionate speech. I'm feeling a lot better now that I've met with my tutor—the plot of The Sound and the Fury is definitely in focus. No, I'm not mad at her anymore. We talked one-on-one, and everything is in focus now.
be out of focus
1. To be unclear; to lack sharp definition. Someone go tell them that the film is out of focus! I don't need my glasses all the time, but everything is slightly out of focus without them. Let me take a look. If the vase of flowers is out of focus, it will come out blurry in the pictures.
2. To be unable to produce a clear, sharp image. Who's been messing with my telescope? It's completely out of focus! I've tried adjusting it over and over again, but the projector is still out of focus. The camera is still out of focus? Hmm, that's a problem.
3. To not be clearly understood, explained, discussed, etc. The point of the professor's lecture was completely out of focus by the end, as she just continued rambling on about whatever topic came to mind. I'm not surprised The Sound and the Fury is out of focus for your students—Faulkner's narrative style is quite complex and convoluted. The importance of environmental conservation is out of focus for a lot of the students, but I'm hopeful that Chelsea's speech will teach them a thing or two.
bring (something) into focus
1. To make an adjustment so that a viewed object can be seen clearly, as with instruments that use lenses, or by digital or other means on a screen. You need to bring the vase of flowers into focus so that it doesn't come out blurry in the pictures. The eye doctor adjusted his machine and brought the eye chart into focus for me. Can you bring the footage into focus so we can see the perpetrator's face?
2. To cause something to be better or more clearly understood or seen in a new perspective. Her passionate speech about the environment really brought the importance of conservation efforts into focus. When discussing complex financial forecasts, we recommend including plenty of detailed charts to bring important details into focus. It seems like the doctor's lecture about lung cancer brought the dangers of smoking home into focus for everyone in the audience.
come into focus
1. To be seen clearly, as via adjustments to instruments that use lenses, or by digital or other means on a screen. No, that's not right—the vase of flowers still hasn't come into focus. The eye doctor adjusted his machine so that the eye chart would come into focus for me. If the footage never comes into focus, we won't get a good look at the perpetrator's face after all.
2. To be better or more clearly understood or seen in a new perspective. The importance of conservation efforts has really come into focus for a lot of the students, thanks to the Chelsea's passionate speech about the environment. When discussing complex financial forecasts, we recommend including plenty of detailed charts that allow important details to come into focus. I think the dangers of smoking will really come into focus with the doctor's lecture about lung cancer.
focus on (someone or something)
1. To direct and adjust the lens (of something) so that an image can be seen through it clearly. In this usage a noun or pronoun can be used between "focus" and "on." I can't seem to focus the camera on the tree—it's still all blurry. I told the cameraman to focus on the lead actress. If you twist the lens, that should bring your subject into focus.
2. To center on or be dedicated to something in particular. Have you decided which topics the meeting will focus on? If your paper is supposed to focus on The Sun Also Rises, then I wouldn't include all that stuff about For Whom the Bell Tolls. Well, what did you think a movie called The Vietnam War was going to focus on?
3. To cause someone or something to center on or be dedicated to something in particular. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "focus" and "on." I think we need still need to focus our efforts on fundraising right now. Can we please focus the discussion on the most pressing issues? If you'd focused your time on your book report yesterday, like I told you to, you'd be done by now.
get in(to) focus
1. To become able to be seen clearly, as via adjustments to instruments that use lenses, or by digital or other means on a screen. The optician adjusted his machine until the eye chart got into focus. I hope this CCTV footage gets in focus at some point, or we won't have a good look at the perpetrator's face. You need to press this button on the camera so your subject gets into focus.
2. To make such an adjustment so that a viewed object can be seen clearly. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "get" and "into." Make sure you get the flower vase in focus for this next shot. The optician got the eye chart into focus for me by adjusting his machine. If you want to get the picture into focus, smack that old TV a few times.
3. To gain more attention or begin to be more clearly understood. As the importance of protecting the environment gets into focus, companies around the world are struggling to adapt in a way that remains profitable. Now that the details of the child star's wildly dysfunctional upbringing have gotten into focus, her troubles as an adult make a lot more sense. Mental health disorders really need to get into focus because they affect so many people.
get out of focus
1. To become unclear; to lose sharp definition. Someone go tell them that the film keeps getting out of focus! I think the lens must be smudged, because everything gets slightly out of focus when I use it. Without my glasses, everything gets pretty out of focus.
2. To become unable to produce a clear, sharp image. Something must be wrong with its sensors, because the camera keeps getting out of focus. I adjusted it before class, but the projector has gotten out of focus again. Hey, quit messing with my telescope! It's going to get completely out of focus!
3. To cease being clearly understood, explained, discussed, etc. Let's try to bring the discussion back to the topic at hand, because I think things are getting slightly out of focus. As the professor continued rambling on, her lecture got increasingly out of focus. It doesn't take much for The Sound and the Fury to get completely out of focus—Faulkner's narrative style is quite complex and convoluted.
in focus
1. Visually crisp and clear, typically of something seen through a camera or other such adjustable device. If the vase of flowers isn't in focus now, it'll come out blurry in the pictures. When I told the eye doctor that the eye chart wasn't in focus, he adjusted his machine some more. Yeah, but if the footage isn't in focus, we'll never be able to make out the perpetrator's face.
2. Better or more clearly understood or seen in a new perspective. The importance of conservation efforts is now in focus for a lot of the students, thanks to Chelsea's passionate speech about the environment. I'm feeling a lot better now that I've met with my tutor—the plot of The Sound and the Fury is definitely in focus. No, I'm not mad at her anymore. We talked one-on-one, and everything is in focus now.
out of focus
1. Not able to be seen with clear, sharp definition. Someone go tell them that the film is out of focus! I don't need my glasses all the time, but everything is slightly out of focus without them.
2. Not able to produce a clear, sharp image. Who's been messing with my telescope? It's completely out of focus! I've tried adjusting it over and over again, but the projector is still out of focus.
3. Not clearly perceived, understood, or explained. Let's try to bring the discussion back to the topic at hand, because I think things are getting out of focus. As the professor continued rambling on, the point of her lecture started to get out of focus.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
bring something into focus
1. Lit. to make something seen through lenses sharply visible. I adjusted the binoculars until I brought the bird sharply into focus. The flowers were brought into focus by adjusting the controls.
2. Fig. to make something clear and understandable. I think we will have a better discussion of the problem if you will say a few words to bring it more sharply into focus. Please try to bring your major point into focus earlier in the essay.
focus on someone or something
1. Lit. to aim and adjust a lens (including the lens in the eye) onto someone or something. I focused on the flower and pressed the shutter release. I focused on Fred and snapped just as he moved.
2. Fig. to dwell on the subject of someone or something. Let's focus on the question of the electric bill, if you don't mind. Let us focus on Fred and discuss his progress.
focus something on someone or something
1. Lit. to aim a lens at someone or something and adjust the lens for clarity. I focused the binoculars on the bird and stood there in awe at its beauty. He focused the camera on Jane and snapped the shutter.
2. Fig. to direct attention to someone or something. Could we please focus the discussion on the matter at hand for a few moments? Let's focus our attention on Tom and discuss his achievements so far.
*in focus
1. Lit. [of an image] seen clearly and sharply. (*Typically: be ~; come [into] ~; get [into] ~; get something [into] ~.) I have the slide in focus and can see the bacteria clearly.
2. Lit. [for optics, such as lenses, or an optical device, such as a microscope] to be aligned to allow something to be seen clearly and sharply. I've adjusted the telescope; Mars is now in focus.
3. Fig. [of problems, solutions, appraisals of people or things] perceived or understood clearly. (*Typically: be ~; get [into] ~; get something [into] ~.) Now that things are in focus, I feel better about the world.
*out of focus
blurred or fuzzy; seen indistinctly. (*Typically: be ~; get ~; go ~.) What I saw through the binoculars was sort of out of focus. The scene was out of focus.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.