| 词组 | aim |
| 释义 | aim 1. Aim to, aim at. Copperud 1970, 1980 reports some uncertainty about the status of aim followed by to and the infinitive. Fowler 1926 plumps for the aim at construction, but does not disparage aim to, calling it good American (he notes that Emerson was fond of it) even though not good English. Fowler's reviser, Sir Ernest Gowers, notes (in Fowler 1965) that aim to has become established in British English, citing an MP. In America, Bernstein 1965 fears that some think aim to has too much of "the dust of the frontier" about it, but Shaw 1970 inexplicably relegates the aim at expression to "colloquial or dialectal" status. The following discussion should clarify the present situation. Dialectal status: the Dictionary of American Regional English finds aim to formerly widespread in American speech but now chiefly limited to the Southern and south Midland areas; in print, however, it does not appear to be receding. The construction appears to have originated in England—the OED Supplement cites John Marston in 1602 and John Seiden in 1649; it is attested in America from Anne Bradstreet in 1650 (Dictionary of American English). Foster 1968 says the expression was current in England in the 18th century, instancing Samuel Johnson: • They pleas'd their Age, and did not aim to mend — Prologue Spoken by Mr. Garrick, at the Opening of the Theatre in Drury Lane, 1747 He also quotes an old rhyme: • Gamesters and puss alike doe watch, And plaie with those they aim to catch. Foster opines that the construction survived in the U.S. after declining in British use, and was then reintroduced from the U.S. in the 20th century. It is clearly flourishing on both sides of the Atlantic now: • ... Mr. Trudeau aims for the jugular as often as he aims to please —Herbert Mitgang, N. Y. Times Book Rev., 12 July 1981 • The communes aim to supply these —Margaret Mead, Barnard Alumnae, Winter 1971 • ... a format aimed to give pleasure to hand and eye — Times Literary Supp., 19 Feb. 1971 • ... this provision aims to ensure on all future occasions the kind of independent reporting which the United Nations got —Dean Acheson in The Pattern of Responsibility, ed. McGeorge Bundy, 1951 • ... we aimed to be absolutely ready from May 15 onwards —Sir John Hunt & Sir Edmund Hillary, GeographicalJour., December 1953 • The stringent sedition laws thus aimed to mobilize a completely united population —Oscar Handlin, The American People in the Twentieth Century, 1954 • "I want to know if you aim to use steel spurs." — Burl Ives, Wayfaring Stranger, 1952 • It aims to drive the Europeans and all other foreigners out —L. S. B. Leakey, Mau Mau and the Kikuyu, 1952 • ... aiming to say something about the soul —C. Day Lewis, The Grand Manner, 1952 • ... aimed to link the fortunes of an individual family with actual text-book events —Leslie Rees, Towards An Australian Drama, 1953 Aim at, however, has not dropped out of use: • ... a recent story aimed at helping French youths to see the U.S.A. —David Butwin, Saturday Rev., 26 Feb. 1972 • ... aimed at helping motorists to understand the truck driver's point of view —Julie Candler, Ford Truck Times, Summer 1970 • ... research activities aimed at developing man's capability to work in the sea —Annual Report, Union Carbide Corp., 1970 • ... proposals aimed at correcting the deficiencies — Eileen Hughes, Ladies' Home Jour., September 1971 • ... a new television series aimed at helping high school students —American Labor, December 1969 • ... has aimed at wooing back women audiences — Current Biography, December 1967 2. Aim at, aim for with a noun. Colter 1981 thinks only at and not for should be used with aim, but he is alone in his belief; Chambers 1985 and Janis 1984 say either may be used, and in fact both are widely used: • ... Mr. Trudeau aims for the jugular —Herbert Mitgang, TV. Y. Times Book Rev., 12 July 1981 • ... climbed down a bank, aiming for a promontory —Edward Hoagland, Harper's, February 1971 • ... when Mr. Causley neglects this rare gift and aims specifically for children —Times Literary Supp., 2 Apr. 1971 • The thing to aim for in posture —James Hewitt, Irish Digest, April 1955 • ... the highway aims straight for Lake Champlain — American Guide Series: Vermont, 1937 • ... to keep the antennas aimed at the earth —Henry S. F. Cooper, Jr., New Yorker, 11 Nov. 1972 • ... one sometimes wonders what effect their creator is aiming at —Edmund Wilson, New Yorker, 18 Sept. 1971 • ... we cannot even be sure what Hamlet is aiming at —William Empson, Sewanee Rev., January-March 1953 • ... aim at results which the other sciences can neither prove nor disprove —Bertrand Russell, Selected Papers, 1927 • In the long run men hit only what they aim at — Henry David Thoreau, Waiden, 1854 Occasionally toward(s) may be used: • ... products, systems and services aimed toward better living —Annual Report, American Home Products Corp., 1970 • It is towards London that touring companies aim — Peter Forster, London Calling, 11 Nov. 1954 |
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