a mad aim

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a mad aim" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an objective or goal that is considered irrational or extreme. Example: "His decision to climb the highest mountain in the world without any prior experience was seen as a mad aim by his friends."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

That seems to be a mad aim.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Mavis's mad aim is to win back her handsome high-school boyfriend, Buddy (sweet-natured Patrick Wilson), who's just become a father, and wrest him from a life of small-town mediocrity.

The Guardian - Film

Yet since early 1998, Allen, second only to Gates as the world's richest man, has flung some $24.5 billion into a mad buying spree aimed at broadband plays cable systems, wireless modems, Web portals and more.

Forbes

Its basic plot is: a down-on-his-luck literary translator, who also happens to be an amateur mad scientist, aims to take over the world by cloning an army's worth of Carlos Fuenteses, but he accidentally instead generates an army of enormous silk worms cloned from Carlos Fuentes's silk tie.

The New Yorker

After all, the film is about a mad scientist with a bizarre fetish, not a remarkable surgeon aiming to improve the lives of his patients.

Huffington Post

With the Treasury focusing its aim on securities with 10- to 30-year durations, investors made a mad scramble to buy long-term bonds ahead of a shortage.

The New York Times

It's a mad, mad, mad, mad world.

The New York Times

FOR many Americans, it's a mad, mad, mad, mad world out there, and getting worse.

The Economist

It was a mad, mad week.

The New York Times

It was a mad, mad experience".

Independent

A mad little thing.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a mad aim" when you want to emphasize the irrational or extreme nature of a goal. It's best suited for contexts where the objective is seen as highly improbable or even dangerous.

Common error

Avoid using "a mad aim" to describe everyday goals or ambitions. The word "mad" carries a strong connotation of irrationality, so reserve it for situations where the objective is truly perceived as extreme or misguided.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a mad aim" functions as a noun phrase, where "mad" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "aim". As seen in the Ludwig examples, this phrase is often used to describe objectives perceived as unreasonable or foolish.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a mad aim" describes a goal deemed irrational or extreme, as affirmed by Ludwig. It's a noun phrase primarily found in news and media contexts. While grammatically sound, its usage is infrequent. When writing, reserve "a mad aim" for truly unreasonable objectives, and consider alternatives like "an insane goal" or "a crazy ambition" for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an insane goal

Replaces 'mad' with 'insane', emphasizing the lack of reason behind the goal.

a crazy ambition

Substitutes 'mad' with 'crazy', highlighting the wild or impractical nature of the ambition.

a wild objective

Uses 'wild' instead of 'mad' to convey the uncontrolled or unrestrained character of the objective.

an unrealistic target

Replaces 'mad' with 'unrealistic', focusing on the improbability of achieving the target.

a foolish endeavor

Changes the structure to focus on the activity ('endeavor') being foolish rather than the aim itself.

a reckless pursuit

Highlights the potentially dangerous or ill-considered nature of the pursuit.

a desperate scheme

Emphasizes the urgency and potential risk associated with the plan.

an irrational objective

Focuses on the lack of logical basis for the objective.

a misguided effort

Indicates that the effort is based on a flawed understanding or judgment.

a far-fetched plan

Emphasizes the improbability and lack of realism in the plan.

FAQs

What does "a mad aim" mean?

The phrase "a mad aim" refers to a goal or objective that is considered irrational, foolish, or extremely ambitious, often to the point of being unrealistic.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "a mad aim"?

It's appropriate when describing a goal that is perceived as highly improbable, reckless, or driven by irrationality rather than sound judgment. It suggests the aim is unlikely to succeed and possibly dangerous.

What are some alternatives to "a mad aim"?

You can use alternatives like "an insane goal", "a crazy ambition", or "an unrealistic target", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "a mad aim" a common expression?

Based on Ludwig, the phrase is relatively rare. More common expressions for similar concepts include "an ambitious goal" or "a challenging objective".