home v. hone

To home in is to focus on a goal or be guided toward a target. Pilots home in on their destinations, and speakers home in on specific issues.

Hone means ‘to sharpen’ or ‘to improve or perfect’. Knives and skills are honed.

The phrase hone in on, presumably meaning ‘to sharpen one’s focus’, has become increasingly common, and is an example of an eggcorn.

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