hit target
Reach goal
Littéralement: To physically strike a mark or object with a projectile.
Use `hit target` when you achieve a specific, measurable result through focused effort.
En 15 secondes
- Successfully reaching a specific, measurable goal or numerical result.
- Commonly used in business, fitness, and personal productivity contexts.
- Implies a combination of clear planning and successful execution.
Signification
When you 'hit target', you successfully achieve exactly what you planned to do. It is like throwing a dart and landing it right in the center of the board.
Exemples clés
3 sur 6Encouraging a teammate
Great job everyone, we hit our monthly target early!
Great job everyone, we reached our monthly goal early!
Texting a friend about the gym
Finally hit my target weight today! Time for a pizza.
Finally reached my goal weight today!
In a formal performance review
I have consistently hit every target set for this quarter.
I have consistently reached every goal set for this quarter.
Contexte culturel
The phrase is deeply rooted in military and hunting history, where precision was a matter of survival. Today, it has been adopted by corporate culture to turn abstract goals into measurable 'targets' that employees can visualize. It reflects a Western cultural emphasis on data, results, and individual accountability.
Make it plural
You can say `hit targets` if you have many goals. It makes you sound like a very busy and successful person!
Don't use it for people
Be careful! If you say 'I hit my target' regarding a person, it might sound like you physically punched them. Always use it for goals or numbers.
En 15 secondes
- Successfully reaching a specific, measurable goal or numerical result.
- Commonly used in business, fitness, and personal productivity contexts.
- Implies a combination of clear planning and successful execution.
What It Means
Hit target means you reached a specific goal or number. It feels like a victory. Imagine you are playing a game. You aim for the bullseye. When you succeed, you have 'hit the target'. In real life, the 'target' is usually a number, a deadline, or a result. It is very satisfying to say.
How To Use It
You can use this for work or personal life. Usually, you use it with numbers. For example, 'We hit our sales target.' You can also use it for time. 'I hit my target of finishing the book by Friday.' It sounds active and energetic. It shows you worked hard and won.
When To Use It
Use it when you feel proud of an achievement. It is perfect for business meetings. It is also great for fitness goals. Tell your friend, 'I hit my target of 10,000 steps!' It works well in performance reviews. It makes you sound organized and successful.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use it for vague dreams. If you just 'want to be happy', you do not 'hit a target'. Targets need to be specific. Also, do not use it for accidental success. If you win the lottery, you did not 'hit a target'. You just got lucky. It implies effort and planning.
Cultural Background
This phrase comes from archery and shooting sports. In Western culture, we love measuring progress. We like to turn life into a game with scores. 'Hitting the target' is a metaphor for precision. It shows that you are a person who stays focused. It is the language of high-achievers and 'go-getters'.
Common Variations
You might hear hit the mark or reach the goal. In business, people say hit the numbers. If you do even better than the goal, you surpass the target. If you fail, you miss the target. But 'hitting' it is the sweet spot of success.
Notes d'usage
The phrase is highly versatile but most effective when the 'target' is quantifiable (numbers, dates, percentages). It sits comfortably between neutral and professional registers.
Make it plural
You can say `hit targets` if you have many goals. It makes you sound like a very busy and successful person!
Don't use it for people
Be careful! If you say 'I hit my target' regarding a person, it might sound like you physically punched them. Always use it for goals or numbers.
The 'Moving Target' Secret
If someone says the 'target is moving', it means the goal is changing and it's getting harder to succeed. It's a common complaint in offices!
Exemples
6Great job everyone, we hit our monthly target early!
Great job everyone, we reached our monthly goal early!
Shows collective success in a professional setting.
Finally hit my target weight today! Time for a pizza.
Finally reached my goal weight today!
Used for personal health milestones.
I have consistently hit every target set for this quarter.
I have consistently reached every goal set for this quarter.
Demonstrates reliability and competence.
I hit my target of eating five cookies in one minute.
I reached my goal of eating five cookies in one minute.
Uses a serious phrase for a silly achievement.
We finally hit our target for the house deposit.
We finally reached our goal for the house deposit.
Reflects a long-term emotional achievement.
The ad didn't quite hit the target audience we wanted.
The ad didn't quite reach the specific group we wanted.
Here 'target' is an adjective for a group of people.
Teste-toi
Choose the best word to complete the sentence about a sales goal.
If we sell ten more cars, we will ___ our target for the month.
The verb `hit` is the standard collocation used with `target` to mean achieving a goal.
Complete the sentence regarding a personal fitness achievement.
I am so happy I ___ my target of running 5km without stopping!
While 'reached' also works, `hit` is more common in conversational English for specific milestones.
🎉 Score : /2
Aides visuelles
Formality of 'Hit Target'
Used with friends for small wins.
I hit my target of waking up at 7 AM!
Standard use for personal goals.
I hit my savings target.
Used in business reports and reviews.
The department hit the annual revenue target.
Where to use 'Hit Target'
Sales Meeting
We hit our Q3 numbers!
Gym/Fitness
I hit my bench press target.
Gaming
I hit the target score to level up.
Financial Planning
We hit our budget target.
Questions fréquentes
11 questionsIt means you reached a specific goal you were aiming for. For example, if your goal was to save $100 and you did it, you hit your target.
They are very similar, but hit target sounds more precise and often involves numbers. Reach a goal can be more general or long-term.
Yes, it is very common in business. You can write, 'We are pleased to announce we hit our production targets.'
Usually, we use a possessive like hit my target or hit our target. If you use the, it refers to one specific goal everyone knows about.
Absolutely. In football or archery, it is used literally. In other sports, it's used for stats, like hitting a target number of points.
It is a specific amount of money a salesperson is expected to make. If they make that amount, they hit their sales target.
No, it is neutral and professional. It is safe to use in almost any situation, from a coffee shop to a boardroom.
Not really. We usually achieve or realize a dream. Hit target is for things you can measure with numbers or dates.
You can say you nearly hit the target or you missed the target. It shows you were close but didn't quite make it.
Usually, yes. It implies success. However, a company could hit a target for layoffs, which is a negative event but a reached goal.
The most common opposite is missing the target. It means you failed to reach the level you wanted.
Expressions liées
Hit the mark
To be accurate or successful in an attempt.
On target
To be making good progress toward a goal.
Meet a deadline
To finish something by the expected time.
Smash a target
To achieve much more than the original goal.
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