bull's-eye: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Predominantly informal and idiomatic, also technical in specific fields (archery, shooting, darts, architecture, confectionery).
Quick answer
What does “bull's-eye” mean?
A target's centre circle, or a direct hit on it. The most important or central point.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A target's centre circle, or a direct hit on it. The most important or central point.
1. A small round or lozenge-shaped sweet; 2. A thick disc of glass, as in a ship's porthole or an old window; 3. A circular window; 4. A lantern with a convex lens; 5. A circular piece of information, used in planning (as in 'bullseye diagram'); 6. A shot that hits the centre of a target; used figuratively to describe achieving a goal perfectly or identifying the main issue precisely.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In BrE, 'bull's-eye' is the common confectionery term for a small, hard, mint-flavoured sweet. In AmE, this sweet is less commonly referred to by this name. The term 'bull's-eye level' (a type of spirit level) is used in AmE carpentry/trade.
Connotations
In both varieties, it conveys precision, success, and the core of an issue. In BrE, it also has a nostalgic, domestic connotation linked to the sweet.
Frequency
Higher frequency in BrE due to the confectionery term. Figurative use ('hit the bullseye') is equally common in both.
Grammar
How to Use “bull's-eye” in a Sentence
[Subject] + hit/score + [a/the] + bull's-eye (+ on [target])[That statement/idea/plan] + is + a bull's-eyeto + aim for + the bull's-eyethe + bull's-eye + of + [argument/discussion]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bull's-eye” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He managed to bull's-eye the winning double with his last dart.
- (Informal) She totally bullseyed that interview question.
American English
- The pilot bullseyed the target on the bombing run.
- (Informal) You really bullseyed the problem with that analysis.
adverb
British English
- (Rare/Informal) He guessed bull's-eye.
American English
- (Rare/Informal) She predicted the outcome bullseye.
adjective
British English
- It was a bull's-eye shot that won the tournament.
- He gave a bull's-eye answer.
American English
- The report provided a bullseye assessment of the market.
- That's a bullseye observation.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
"The new marketing campaign was a bull's-eye, doubling our sales." (figurative for success)
Academic
"The researcher's hypothesis hit the bull's-eye, explaining all anomalous data."
Everyday
"You guessed the birthday present? Bull's-eye!" or "Fancy a bull's-eye?" (BrE, offering a sweet).
Technical
"The archer's final arrow was a perfect bull's-eye, scoring 10 points."
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bull's-eye”
- Misspelling as 'bulls-eye' (acceptable) or 'bullseye' without understanding the origin. Using 'bull-eye' is incorrect.
- Overusing the figurative sense where a simpler word ('goal', 'point') would suffice.
- Using it as a verb without context (e.g., 'He bullseyed the target' is informal/rare).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, especially in modern usage and for figurative meanings. Dictionaries list both 'bull's-eye' and 'bullseye'. The hyphenated form is traditionally more common for the literal target centre.
Informally, yes. It means 'to hit the bull's-eye' or 'to be exactly right about something.' (e.g., 'He bullseyed the answer'). It is more common in spoken/informal English.
It's based on shape resemblance. The round, hard sweet and the thick, often convex glass disc both resemble the simple round shape of a target's centre circle.
Yes, but specifically, the very centre, the inner bull or 'double bull', is worth 50 points. The outer bull ring (surrounding it) is the 'single bull' (25 points). Colloquially, 'bull's-eye' often refers to the 50-point centre.
A target's centre circle, or a direct hit on it. The most important or central point.
Bull's-eye is usually predominantly informal and idiomatic, also technical in specific fields (archery, shooting, darts, architecture, confectionery). in register.
Bull's-eye: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbʊlz ˌaɪ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbʊlz ˌaɪ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Hit the bull's-eye”
- “Score a bull's-eye”
- “Be a bull's-eye (figurative)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a BULL with one huge EYE staring right at the centre of a target, not missing a thing. The bull's eye is the centre.
Conceptual Metaphor
ACCURACY/SUCCESS IS HITTING A CENTRAL TARGET. UNDERSTANDING IS SEEING A CENTRAL POINT (eye = insight).
Practice
Quiz
Which of these is NOT a common meaning of 'bull's-eye'?