bad aim

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "bad aim" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone's lack of accuracy or precision, particularly in contexts involving shooting, throwing, or any activity requiring targeted effort. Example: "Despite his enthusiasm for archery, his bad aim resulted in several missed targets during the competition."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

"Bad aim," Sebastian quipped.

The New Yorker

But don't worry -- they have really bad aim here.

The New York Times

To redistribute the national pie in more equitable ways is not a bad aim.

The Economist

They had viewed Maddox on film and thought he had a weak arm, played nervous and had bad aim.

The New York Times - Sports

Whether the mortar rounds that killed the Afghans were a result of bad aim, bad orders or bad intentions remains to be determined.

The New York Times

21 and that a combination of bad aim and bad luck, including the path Brashear took, contributed to the seriousness of the incident.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

Not bad aims for any director, especially one who more or less confessed on celluloid in making "8½" that, though there was much more to see, there wasn't much more to say.

The Guardian - Film

The bad-aim defense is not a likely winner.

The New York Times

In another, she's repairing a relationship with no-job-having Lawrence (who she cheats on with bad-aim-having Daniel).

Vice

Increasingly, those bad guys aim right for the companies' database of customer information, issuing commands to database software to try to take control.

The New York Times

But third, and most important, these are still businesses with fantastic potential, and India's advantages are so great that, however bad its aim, it will be hard-pressed to shoot itself in the foot.Bangalore, say officials, is the fastest-growing city in India.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a situation where someone's "bad aim" had unintended consequences, emphasize the element of chance or lack of control to soften the impact.

Common error

Avoid implying malicious intent when describing "bad aim". Focus on the lack of skill or accidental nature of the inaccuracy, unless evidence clearly indicates otherwise.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "bad aim" functions as a noun phrase, where "bad" is an adjective modifying the noun "aim". It typically describes a lack of precision or accuracy in targeting something. Ludwig examples show its usage across various contexts, from physical actions like shooting to more abstract applications.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Wiki

16%

Science

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "bad aim" is a commonly used noun phrase that describes a lack of accuracy or precision in targeting. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and appears frequently in various contexts, particularly in news and media. The phrase serves to explain a failure to achieve a desired outcome and is generally used in a neutral register. While its use is straightforward, be mindful of potentially attributing unintended malicious intent. Related phrases include "poor accuracy" and "inaccurate shot", providing alternative ways to express similar concepts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

terrible aim

A direct synonym, simply replacing "bad" with "terrible".

poor accuracy

Focuses on the lack of precision rather than the intended target.

inaccurate shot

Specifically refers to a shooting context, emphasizing the shot's deviation from the target.

faulty targeting

Highlights the error in the process of aiming or selecting a target.

deficient marksmanship

A more formal term, referring to a lack of skill in shooting.

imprecise throw

Applies specifically to throwing actions, indicating a lack of accuracy.

way off target

Emphasizes the large deviation from the intended point.

off the mark

Similar to 'way off target', but can apply more broadly to any kind of attempt or guess.

lousy shot

Informal way to express a poor attempt at shooting.

awful accuracy

Stresses the extremely poor state of someone's precision.

FAQs

What does "bad aim" mean?

"Bad aim" refers to a lack of accuracy or precision when targeting something, often in the context of shooting, throwing, or directing an object.

What can I say instead of "bad aim"?

You can use alternatives like "poor accuracy", "inaccurate shot", or "faulty targeting" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "bad aim" or "poor aim"?

Both "bad aim" and "poor aim" are correct and generally interchangeable. The choice often comes down to personal preference or stylistic considerations.

How to use "bad aim" in a sentence?

You can use "bad aim" in a sentence like: "The accident was caused by the soldier's bad aim", or "Despite his enthusiasm, his bad aim made it difficult to hit the target".