in the crosshairs

Meanings

prepositional phrase

literallyTargeted at the point of intersection of the two perpendicular lines in a gunsight or scope.
figurativelySubject to close scrutiny.
Industry experts are concerned that if the railway doesn't change tack, it would soon find itself out of step with the needs of the nation and in the crosshairs of a Treasury looking to slash spending.
2021 October 20, Ben Jones, “The benefits of (and barriers to) more leisure travel by rail”, in RAIL, number 942, page 32
figurativelySingled out for blame, harassment, or other unwanted attention.
U.S. Representative Jane Harman, a California Democrat, has found herself in the crosshairs of a potential scandal.
2009 April 22, Alex Altman, “2 Minute Bio: California Rep. Jane Harman”, in Time
2 more examples
Nettles lives in the crosshairs, with the secret police, his sympathizers, and his now and would-be lovers making impossible demands on him.
1989 November 3, “Brilliant acting, conception drive ‘Largo Desolato’”, in The Advocate, Louisiana, USA, retrieved 27 Oct 2011
The German industrial giants that exploited slave labor during the war, from Volkswagen to Krupp, are in the crosshairs of class-action suits from Holocaust survivors.
1998 December 2, Frank Rich, “Opinion: What's Good for General Motors . . .”, in New York Times, retrieved 27 Oct 2011

Finnish tähtäimessä, luupin alla

Cite this entry

APA

in the crosshairs. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/in%20the%20crosshairs

MLA

“in the crosshairs.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/in%20the%20crosshairs. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “in the crosshairs,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/in%20the%20crosshairs.