take aim


Direct a missile or criticism at something or someone, as in Raising his rifle, Chet took aim at the squirrel but missed it entirely, or In his last speech the President took aim at the opposition leader. [Late 1500s]

Words Nearby take aim

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

How to use take aim in a sentence

  • In the fall the barrel of his rifle had been so covered with dead leaves and dust that he could not take aim.

    Hunting the Lions | R.M. Ballantyne
  • When this sound reached our ears, the magistrate would sit up with his rifle to take aim.

    Kari the Elephant | Dhan Gopal Mukerji
  • The two Barolongs engaged to take firebrands and throw them at him so as to afford me a degree of light that I might take aim.

    Robert Moffat | David J. Deane
  • Before the next man could take aim, Barrent was on his feet and running.

    The Status Civilization | Robert Sheckley