take aim at

idiomatic phrase

: to have (something or someone) as a target

new legislation that takes aim at crime

… reformers are trying to recharge an apathetic electorate by taking aim at the very process of voting itself.

—Wilma Rule et al.

… ski marketers are now taking aim at older skiers, women, boomers with young families, and their kids.

—Jon Bowermaster

Whereas most previous HIV drugs block enzymes the virus used to copy itself, the new ones take aim at different stages in the virus's life cycle …

—Susan Karlin

Examples of take aim at in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Both shows rely on a panel of comedians to take aim at the news, though @Midnight, with its focus on viral clips and memes, may be a bit more evergreen. —Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 May 2023

Then, in September 2021, Drake released Certified Lover Boy and fans were quick to dissect the lyrics, many of which appeared to take aim at West. —Daniela Avila, Peoplemag, 4 Apr. 2023

The bill appears to take aim at the high standard that the Supreme Court established nearly 60 years ago for defamation cases. —Lori Rozsa, Washington Post, 23 Mar. 2023

Senate Bill 6 is one of nine bills the Senate unveiled earlier this month as a suite of fossil fuel-centric bills that take aim at Texas’ booming renewable energy sector under promises of greater grid stability. —Philip Jankowski, Dallas News, 22 Mar. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1545, in the meaning defined above