have something in one’s sights—
1. (of a hunter, etc.) take aim at smth.:
- I had the deer in my sights, but it moved before I could fire.
2. (of celestial objects) observe through the telescope:
- I tried the Crab nebula first and soon had it in my sights.
3. regard smth. as a prospective objective:
- Today Ireland is looking forward to the best future we’ve had in our sights for generations.
set one’s sights on something—
1. see smth.:
- When I set my sights on this guitar, I was hoping for a modern-production guitar that caught the sound of the old ragtime.
2. = have something in one’s sights 3:
- They may have to set their sights on something less ambitious.