bull's-eye

noun

ˈbu̇lz-ˌī 

 also  ˈbəlz-

variants or bullseye

plural bull's-eyes or bullseyes

1

: a very hard globular candy

2

: a circular piece of glass especially with a lump in the middle

3

a

: the center of a target

also : something central or crucial

b

: a shot that hits the bull's-eye

broadly : something that precisely attains a desired end

4

: a simple lens of short focal distance

also : a lantern with such a lens

Synonyms

• bottom line
• centerpiece
• core
• crux
• essence
• gist
• heart
• kernel
• keynote
• meat
• meat and potatoes
• net
• nub
• nubbin
• nucleus
• pith
• pivot
• point
• root
• sum

Examples of bull's-eye in a Sentence

you hit the bull's-eye when you noted that the real issue here is money

Recent Examples on the Web

Wilmington is in the bull's-eye for the worst of the flooding. —Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 16 Sep. 2024

Biden admits putting Trump in 'bull's-eye' was a mistake. —Nicole Russell, USA TODAY, 18 July 2024

The Fed's actions in Washington put a bull's-eye on America's wallets. —Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press, 20 Mar. 2024

On Sunday, the risk for storms moves north, with the Dakotas, Nebraska, western Minnesota and Iowa in the bull's-eye for damaging winds and large hail. —Daniel Amarante, ABC News, 1 June 2024

On Sunday, cities in the bull's-eye for tornadoes will be St. Louis, Missouri; Louisville, Kentucky; and Indianapolis. —Max Golembo, ABC News, 24 May 2024

Cities in the bull's-eye of these severe storms will be San Antonio, Austin, San Angelo and north to Abilene. —Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 2 Feb. 2024

And yesterday President Trump put a bull's-eye on that mission. —IEEE Spectrum, 17 Mar. 2017

On Friday, severe weather is forecast from Mississippi to North Carolina with the bull's-eye for damaging winds in northern Mississippi, from Jackson to Tupelo. —Max Golembo, ABC News, 12 Jan. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1825, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

bull's-eye

noun

ˈbu̇l-ˌzī

1

: a round hard candy

2

a

: the center of a target

b

: a shot that hits the center of a target