Collocations for target - noun
1. sb/sth that you try to destroy, hurt, steal, etc.
ADJECTIVE
favourite/favorite,
frequent,
important,
likely,
natural,
obvious,
perfect,
possible,
potential,
prime,
suitable
The President is a favourite/favorite target of comedians.
The President is a favourite/favorite target of comedians.
attractive,
tempting
Trains are attractive targets for terrorists.
Trains are attractive targets for terrorists.
specific
real
The real target of his satire is religion.
real
The real target of his satire is religion.
easy,
sitting,
soft,
tempting,
vulnerable
The stationary trucks were sitting targets for the enemy planes.
The stationary trucks were sitting targets for the enemy planes.
legitimate
intended
fixed, stationary
moving
ground
enemy, military, strategic
civilian, non-military
high-value
terrorist
takeover
The company could become a takeover target.
intended
fixed, stationary
moving
ground
enemy, military, strategic
civilian, non-military
high-value
terrorist
takeover
The company could become a takeover target.
VERB + target
choose,
identify,
pick
aim at, attack, engage, go for, shoot at
find, locate
hit, reach, strike
The bomb reached its intended target ten seconds later.
aim at, attack, engage, go for, shoot at
find, locate
hit, reach, strike
The bomb reached its intended target ten seconds later.
miss,
overshoot
The flare overshot its target and set fire to a hotel.
The flare overshot its target and set fire to a hotel.
destroy
The missile is intended to destroy military targets.
The missile is intended to destroy military targets.
track
The radar beam can track a number of targets simultaneously.
The radar beam can track a number of targets simultaneously.
present
The damaged ship presented a tempting target.
The damaged ship presented a tempting target.
make
The casino made an easy target for thieves.
The casino made an easy target for thieves.
target + NOUN
site
It should be possible to deliver the drug direct to the target site.
The missile never reached its target site.
It should be possible to deliver the drug direct to the target site.
The missile never reached its target site.
PREPOSITION
off target
The missile veered way off target and landed in the sea.
The missile veered way off target and landed in the sea.
on target
Politically speaking, his jibes were right on target.
Politically speaking, his jibes were right on target.
target for
an easy target for thieves
an easy target for thieves
2. object that you shoot at
VERB + target
put up,
set up
The archers were setting up their targets.
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.
hit
miss
use sth as
The boys used an old tree stump as a target.
PREPOSITION
off target
Patton was just off target with his shot.
Patton was just off target with his shot.
on target
His first shot was bang on target.
His first shot was bang on target.
wide of the target
The shot went wide of the target.
The shot went wide of the target.
3. result, person, etc. that you aim to reach
ADJECTIVE
achievable,
attainable (esp. BrE),
low,
modest,
realistic
ambitious, challenging (esp. BrE), demanding (esp. BrE), difficult, high, tough, unrealistic
She has always set herself very high targets.
ambitious, challenging (esp. BrE), demanding (esp. BrE), difficult, high, tough, unrealistic
She has always set herself very high targets.
impossible
new
clear, specific
chief, key, main, major, primary, prime, principal
annual
immediate, initial
future, long-term, ultimate
economic, financial, growth, inflation, performance, price, production, profit, recruitment, sales, spending
Hospital performance targets will not be met.
new
clear, specific
chief, key, main, major, primary, prime, principal
annual
immediate, initial
future, long-term, ultimate
economic, financial, growth, inflation, performance, price, production, profit, recruitment, sales, spending
Hospital performance targets will not be met.
VERB + target
set
Managers must set targets that are realistic.
Managers must set targets that are realistic.
aim for
Students should be given a target to aim for.
Students should be given a target to aim for.
achieve,
meet,
reach
stay on/within
in a desperate attempt to stay within budget targets
stay on/within
in a desperate attempt to stay within budget targets
exceed
The company pays bonuses to workers who exceed production targets.
The company pays bonuses to workers who exceed production targets.
fall short of
target + NOUN
audience,
demographic (esp. AmE),
group,
market,
population
The film's target demographic is women aged 18–49 years.
The film's target demographic is women aged 18–49 years.
date
to meet a target date of May 2002
to meet a target date of May 2002
figure (esp. BrE),
level,
price,
range,
weight
PREPOSITION
above (a/the) target
Sales so far this year are 20% above target.
Sales so far this year are 20% above target.
off target
These figures are way off target.
These figures are way off target.
on target
We are still right on target.
We are still right on target.
within target
We are well within our target for trains arriving on time.
We are well within our target for trains arriving on time.
over (a/the) target
Many pay agreements reached were over the original target of 4%.
Many pay agreements reached were over the original target of 4%.
towards/toward (a/the) target
We are working towards/toward a target of twenty cars a week.
We are working towards/toward a target of twenty cars a week.
target for
The CEO has set new targets for growth.
The CEO has set new targets for growth.