noun
1 sb/sth that you try to destroy, hurt, steal, etc.
ADJ.
favourite, likely, natural, obvious, perfect, possible, potential, prime, suitable
The prime minister is a favourite target of comedians.
| easy, sitting, soft, tempting, vulnerable
The stationary trucks were sitting targets for the enemy planes.
| legitimate | intended |
stationary | moving | ground |
military | civilian, non-military | terrorist
VERB + TARGET
aim at, attack, go for, shoot at | hit, reach (used of a missile)
The bomb reached its intended target ten seconds later.
| miss, overshoot
The flare overshot its target and set light to a hotel.
| destroy
The missile is aimed specifically to destroy military targets.
| track
The radar beam can track a number of targets almost simultaneously.
PREP.
off ~
The missile veered way off target and landed in the sea.
| on ~
Politically speaking, his jibes were right on target.
| ~ for
an easy target for shoplifters
2 object that you shoot at
VERB + TARGET
put up, set up
The archers were setting up their targets.
| aim at, shoot at | hit | miss | use sth as
The boys used an old tree stump as a target.
TARGET + NOUN
area | practice
PREP.
off ~
Patton was just off target with a header.
| on ~
His first shot was bang on target.
| wide of the ~
The shot went wide of the target.
3 result, person, etc. that you aim to reach
ADJ.
achievable, attainable, low, modest, realistic | ambitious, demanding, difficult, high, tough, unrealistic
She has always set herself very high targets.
| impossible | clear | chief, key, main, major, primary, prime, principal | annual | immediate, initial | future, long-term, ultimate | attainment, economic, financial, growth, inflation, performance, production, profit, recruitment, sales, spending
VERB + TARGET
set
Managers must set targets that are realistic.
| aim for
Pupils should be given a target to aim for.
| achieve, meet, reach | stay within
in a desperate attempt to stay within budget targets
| exceed
The company pays bonuses to workers who exceed production targets.
| fall short of
TARGET + NOUN
audience, group, market | date
to meet a target date of May 2002
| figure, price, weight
PREP.
above (a/the) ~
Sales so far this year are 20% above target.
| off ~
These figures are way off target.
| on ~
We are still right on target.
| over (a/the) ~
Many wage settlements reached were over the original target of 4%.
| towards (a/the) ~
We are working towards a target of twenty cars a week.
| ~ for
setting new targets for growth
verb
ADV.
carefully, deliberately
a carefully targeted marketing campaign Children are deliberately targeted.
| particularly, specifically
PREP.
at
The products are targeted at young people.
| for
This hospital is targeted for additional funding.
| on
Tax cuts should be targeted on the poor.
| towards
We target our services towards specific groups of people.
Random quote: Inspiration exists, but it has to find us working.: Pablo Picasso
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