rifle

Related to rifle: rifle through

rifle approach

In business, a marketing strategy in which a very narrow, focused, or selective group, demographic, or population is targeted or advertised to. Our competitors have been drawing away a large proportion of the market share of teenaged customers, so our next marketing campaign is going to have a rifle approach to get them back.
See also: approach, rifle

rifle through (something)

To look through something very quickly, roughly, or energetically. I rifled through the filing cabinet, but I couldn't find our tax return anywhere. I could hear you rifling through the kitchen at 1 AM—what on earth were you looking for?
See also: rifle, through
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

rifle through something

to ransack something; to search quickly or roughly through something looking for something. The teenager quickly rifled through the cabinets, looking for something worth eating. The soldiers rifled through every house they could break into. rig someone or something out (in something) to outfit someone or something in something; to decorate or dress someone or something in something. (Alludes to the rigging of a sailing ship.) Joan rigged her daughter out in a witch's costume for the Halloween party. He rigged out his car with lights for the parade.
See also: rifle, through
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

rifle through

v.
To search through something quickly and vigorously: I rifled through the drawer looking for my car keys.
See also: rifle, through
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • rifle approach
  • shotgun approach
  • straight and narrow, (walk) the
  • straight and narrow, the
  • the straight and narrow
  • an inside job
  • inside job
  • pep
  • pep pill
  • big boned
References in classic literature
His rifle was between his knees, but if he let go the steering-oar in order to shoot, the boat would sweep around and collide with the schooner.
He never let go his rifle, even passing down the tackles with one hand.
The Sea Wolf
They came on, stooping and swinging their rifles at all angles.
Red Badge of Courage
And Joe, taking off his linen jacket, hung it on the end of the rifle, and thrust it above the top of the steps.
Five Weeks in a Balloon
Baynes turned weakly in the direction of the shore to see Malbihn drawn up upon his elbows levelling his rifle at him.
Son Of Tarzan
Realizing that the game was about up Tarzan with a farewell shot laid aside the rifle and melted into the hills behind him.
Tarzan the Untamed
And until it disappeared over the tops of the trees of a near-by wood the five men stood as though paralyzed, their eyes never leaving the weird shape; nor never one of them appearing to recall that he grasped a loaded rifle in his hands.
Out of Times Abyss
As he passed through the opening, the front sight of the rifle caught upon the edge of the inswung door with sufficient force to close it tightly after the fleeing ape.
Tarzan of the Apes
The modern rifles, stolen from Lunga, Sheldon set aside; the Sniders he smashed into fragments; the pile of spears, clubs, and tomahawks he presented to Joan.
Adventure
Matt took the rifle and began slowly to raise it to his shoulder.
White Fang
** The rifle of the army is short; that of the hunter is always long.
Last of The Mohicans
“You may call it by what larned name you please, Judge,” said the hunter, throwing his rifle across his left arm, and knocking up a brass lid in the breech, from which he took a small piece of greased leather and, wrapping a bail in it, forced them down by main strength on the powder, where he continued to pound them while speaking.
Pioneers
It was pacing, or rather, slinking, straight for Delcarte, who had now leveled his rifle upon it.
The Lost Continent
"A tiger!" ejaculated Tom, as he began once more to change the charge in his rifle to a larger one, running back, meanwhile, in the direction of the sound of the voice.
Tom Swift In The Land Of Wonders
At that moment one of our party, who had been on guard, strode in among us, rifle in hand and somewhat excited.
Can Such Things Be