- Meaning
- This idiom means to be targeted, scrutinized, or at the center of attention, often in a threatening or critical way. It evokes the image of being in a rifle’s sights, suggesting vulnerability or being singled out, used in contexts of blame, investigation, or competition.
- Origin
- The phrase comes from 20th-century military and hunting terminology, where ‘crosshairs’ refer to the intersecting lines in a rifle scope. It emerged metaphorically in American English during the 1960s, with a 1963 *New York Times* article using ‘in the crosshairs’ to describe political targeting. Popularized during the Cold War and Watergate era, it reflects precision targeting in journalism and politics, with its vivid imagery ensuring modern use.
- Variants
-
- In the crosshairs
- Caught in the cross hairs
- Examples
-
- The CEO is caught in the crosshairs of the media after the company’s scandal.
- She’s in the crosshairs of the audit team, suspected of financial errors.
- Caught in the crosshairs, the politician faced relentless criticism for his policies.
- The startup is in the crosshairs of competitors aiming to steal its market share.
|