Everyday expressions with a shooting reference.

[PATH]

1) "Shoot the Breeze"

2) "Keep your powder dry"

3)"shoot from the hip"

4) "shoot one's mouth off"

5) getting shot down (asking for a date or a raise at work)

6) Bullseye

7) shoot the S**t

8) dodged a bullet

9) shoot for the stars

10) they're gunning for you (boss looking to fire you)


Please folks, help me by adding to this list. Thank you!

 

[nsf003]

The only two I can think of are

Stick to your guns
Bite the bullet.

nsf

 

[KSFreeman]

Flash in the pan.

Lock, stock and barrel.

Going off half-cocked.

 

[tyme]

6) Bullseye

I'm thinking that's originally from archery.

 

[bastiat]

calling someone a 'straight shooter'

 

[MessedUpMike]

Losing your aim,
refering to some one/thing as a dud.

 

[KSFreeman]

Hang fire.

 

[Triad]

"The whole nine yards" Originally referred to the length of .50 cal ammo belts for navy fighters in WW2.

 

[Greybeard]

dud

 

[Hkmp5sd]

Shooting blanks.

 

[super cub]

more shooting terms ( heard in the South anyway )

"target-rich environment", as in lots of good-looking women at this party.

-using a "shotgun approach" to solve a problem

- "targeting" , as in thieves targeting certain areas

- "right on target" , as in an idea or theory

- political candidates as "long-shots"

- "shooting holes in a theory"

- "shot" , as in "that engine is shot (beyond repair).

- "rapid-fire manner of speaking"

- Did anyone mention "shotgun wedding"?

 

[orsogato]

"GIVE HIM THE WHOLE NINE YARDS!"

refering to 9yard .50 BMG belts carried by B-17 waist gunners in wwII.

 

[sm]

Lock & Load

 

[super cub]

two more

"shot", as in "that dog took off like a shot to chase that cat!"

"shot" - as in "I see you smashed your finger with the hammer, so let's have a little shot of Wild Turkey to ward off the infection."

 

[Seeker]

"loaded fer bar" (loaded for bear)

 

[Justin]

Shoot the breeze

 

[croyance]

"GIVE HIM THE WHOLE NINE YARDS!" refering to 9yard .50 BMG belts carried by B-17 waist gunners in wwII.

I thought that "The whole nine yards" refered to American WWII fighter planes, which carried 27 feet (9 yards) belts of .50 BMG ammo for each of its 6 guns. When a fighter came back after using up all its ammo, they had used "the whole nine yards".

 

[Khornet]

Here are a few

www.americasvoices.org/archives2001/BowenM/Bowen_M/110601.htm

 

[Khornet]

Oops. This

www.americasvoices.org/archives2001/BowenM/BowenM_110601.htm

 

[vertigo7]

Doesn't anyone declare "I got shotgun!" anymore when rushing to claim the front seat in a car?

The Shotgun Rules

And if someone harshly chews you out while standing right in your face, they might have "given you both barrels" at "point-blank range".

vertigo7