mettere a fuoco

Italian

Etymology

Literally, “to put to fire”.

Verb

méttere a fuoco (first-person singular present métto a fuoco, first-person singular past historic mìsi a fuoco, past participle mésso a fuoco, auxiliary avére)

1. (transitive, intransitive) to focus (adjust a lens, etc.)
2. (transitive, by extension) to fix one's eyes on; to bring into focus
   • 2019, George Orwell, translated by Nicola Gardini, Nineteen Eighty-Four, Mondadori:

     Fermò lo sguardo su Winston e lo mise a fuoco lentamente.

     His eyes focused themselves slowly on Winston.

     (literally, “He fixed his gaze on Winston and slowly brought him into focus.”)

3. (transitive, figurative, by extension) to clarify the circumstances, parameters, etc. of a problem to better understand it

   mettere a fuoco la situazione ― to clarify the situation