Be out to get someone 🏃➡️🎯
Meaning
To be determined to harm, criticize, or defeat someone.
Origin
This phrase likely stems from the idea of a pursuit or a hunt. Imagine a predator, like a lion or a wolf, that has specifically targeted its prey. It's no longer simply roaming; it's actively on the move, focused with the sole intention of capturing and harming its victim. The 'out' suggests movement away from a neutral state and into an active state of antagonism. The intensity of the phrase implies a deliberate, often malicious, pursuit that goes beyond mere dislike into a determined effort to cause harm or bring about misfortune.
Be out to get someone represented with emoji🏃➡️🎯
This playful arrangement, 🏃➡️🎯, functions as a delightful visual riddle. It doesn't just present a common idiom, but invites us to consider the inherent drama and narrative embedded within simple gestures. Note how the combination of running and a target evokes a sense of pursuit and intention, prompting a reflection on the directionality of our actions, whether literal or metaphorical.
Examples
- I think my boss is out to get me because I disagreed with him in the meeting.
- She feels her neighbor is out to get her, constantly reporting minor infractions.
- The grumpy badger was clearly out to get anyone who dared cross his path to the best berries.
- It seems the mischievous squirrels are out to get my prize-winning petunias this year, digging them up with glee.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, the phrase can be used humorously, often exaggerating a minor annoyance into a perceived, dramatic plot. This often happens in playful banter or when describing trivial 'conflicts', like a cat seemingly plotting against its owner.
It is an informal idiom, commonly used in everyday conversation and casual writing. Using it in highly formal contexts, such as academic papers or official reports, would generally be inappropriate.
The opposite sentiment would be to 'have someone's back' or to 'support someone,' implying a desire to help or protect them. This contrasts with the aggressive intent inherent in being 'out to get someone'.
Not necessarily; the phrase describes a determined personal intention to harm or defeat someone, which can be an individual effort or part of a larger, acknowledged group plan. The focus is on the active pursuit of negative outcome for the target.