angle at (something)

To plan or scheme to get or achieve something; to try to get something in an indirect or roundabout way. (Usually used in the continuous tense.) We've been angling at securing a contract with a major development company from the Middle East for the last few months. What exactly are you angling at? If it's a pay raise, you can just forget about it. I know Phil's angling at a day off, but we're just too short-staffed right now.