bullseye
bullseye Lexical Profile
bullseye Game Scores & Validity
• noun
The circular center of a target in sports such as archery or darts, or a shot that hits this center.
"She took a deep breath, released the bowstring, and hit a bullseye on her final attempt."
Something that achieves the exact intended effect or precisely hits the mark.
"The marketing campaign was a complete bullseye for the company's summer product launch."
A large, hard, spherical peppermint-flavored boiled candy, traditionally striped in black and white.
"The old-fashioned confectionery shop sold jars of striped peppermint bullseyes by weight."
Any of several marine fishes of the family Priacanthidae (commonly known as bigeyes) or coastal sweeper fishes of the family Pempheridae, native to tropical and subtropical Indo-Pacific and Atlantic waters and characterized by large, prominent eyes and reddish or coppery scales.
"During the night dive along the reef, we observed a school of nocturnal bullseyes emerging from a rocky crevice."
• interjection
Used to exclaim triumph or satisfaction upon hitting the center of a target or making a remarkably accurate guess or statement.
"Bullseye! Your analysis identified the exact flaw in our financial model."
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the 18th century as a compound of "bull's" and "eye," originally referring to rounded objects or small circular windows before being applied to the circular center of an archery target in the early 19th century.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.