take square aim

USAGE SUMMARY

Sentence The phrase 'take square aim' is grammatically correct, however, it is not a commonly used phrase.
It can be used to describe the action of focusing on a target or goal. For example, "He took square aim and fired the arrow at the target."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The 848-page reform law seemed to take square aim at Goldman's vast derivatives and private equity operations.

Forbes

The brainchild of company founder and chief technical officer Peter Treadway, the RocketSkates take square aim at urban residents who too often find themselves at the intersection of too-close-to-drive and too-far-to-walk.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

In this talk, McAfee took square aim at mobile.

The Guardian - Tech

Wachtell's proposal takes square aim at a topic I recently wrote about: the payment by hedge funds of large amounts of incentive compensation to director nominees.

The New York Times

Taking square aim at a measure approved twice by voters in Oregon, Attorney General John Ashcroft authorized federal agents yesterday to take action against doctors who prescribe lethal drugs for terminally ill patients.

The New York Times

In a parody of Ms. Struthers's campaigns for Save the Children, the outdoor campaign took square aim at the original MTV for playing fewer and fewer videos by warning, "Every day, thousands of music videos go unplayed".

The New York Times

[B6.] GOOGLE'S LITERARY AMBITIONS Taking square aim at Amazon and its Kindle, Google plans this year to help publishers sell digital versions of new books direct to consumers, for use on phones or e-book readers.

The New York Times

He branded T-Mobile the "Un-carrier" and took square aim at the staid giants of the industry, AT&T and Verizon, publicly describing them with language that can't be printed in this newspaper.

The New York Times

Mr. McCain took square aim at Mr. Obama, proclaiming that he had "accumulated the most liberal voting record in the Senate," mocking him for belief in diplomacy with enemy nations and even criticizing him for voting for Mr. Bush's energy bill, which Mr. McCain opposed.

The New York Times

That changed Friday, when he took square aim at the president in an hour-long speech.

Vice

Here, Friedman takes square aim at the premises that guide most of his thinking, and constructs some robust farce.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "take square aim" when you want to convey a direct and intentional focus towards a specific target, often implying a critical or corrective action.

Common error

Avoid using "take square aim" in contexts where a literal aiming action is expected. The phrase is primarily figurative and denotes focused intent.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "take square aim" functions as a figurative expression used to describe a focused and deliberate targeting of something, often with the intent of correction or criticism. Ludwig AI states the phrase is grammatically correct, but not commonly used.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Wiki

17%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "take square aim" describes a deliberate and focused effort towards a specific target, as supported by Ludwig's analysis of example sentences. Although Ludwig AI states the phrase isn't commonly used, it's grammatically sound and suitable for neutral registers, particularly in news or media contexts. While alternatives like "focus intently on" or "aim directly at" can be considered, "take square aim" uniquely conveys a sense of purposeful targeting. Understanding its figurative nature is key to using it effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

aim directly at

Maintains the aiming metaphor but replaces "square" with "directly" for emphasis.

zero in on

Emphasizes precision and narrowing of focus on a particular target.

set sights on

Uses a more figurative version of aiming, indicating aspiration rather than immediate action.

focus intently on

Emphasizes a concentrated focus, differing from the targeting aspect of the original phrase.

target specifically

Shifts the focus to the specificity of the target, losing the aiming imagery.

have in one's sights

Implies a less immediate action, more about having something as a goal.

bear down on

Implies a forceful and determined approach to a target or goal.

concentrate efforts on

Replaces the aiming metaphor with a more general concept of directing effort.

address head-on

Focuses on confronting something directly, losing the nuance of aiming.

make a beeline for

Suggests moving directly towards a goal, dropping the aiming element.

FAQs

How can I use "take square aim" in a sentence?

You can use "take square aim" to describe focusing intensely on a goal, such as "The new policy "takes square aim at" reducing carbon emissions".

What does it mean to "take square aim" at something?

To "take square aim" at something means to direct one's efforts or criticisms directly and intentionally towards a specific target or objective.

Are there any synonyms for "take square aim"?

Yes, alternatives include "aim directly at", "focus intently on", or "target specifically". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it appropriate to use "take square aim" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "take square aim" may be more suited for news articles or less formal contexts. In formal writing, consider alternatives like "focus intently on" to maintain a professional tone.