pot shot

      English

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      Etymology

      1858, shot taken for the (cooking) pot, namely for food; see pothunter.[1] Sense “opportunistic criticism” from 1926.[1]

      Noun

      pot shot (plural pot shots)

      1. A haphazard shot with a firearm, taken with careless aim, often fired at a random target.
      2. A shot taken from a hidden stakeout.
      3. By analogy, insulting or hurtful words carelessly or randomly said; opportunistic attack, especially criticism.
        • 2007, The Observer, [1]
          Why should Jonathan, Ruth and all the others have to stay out there like sitting ducks as policemen and their smug reporter friends took pot shots at them?

      Related terms

      Translations

      haphazard shot
      shot taken from hiding
      randomly said hurtful words

      References

      1. ↑ 1.01.1 “pot shot” in Douglas Harper, Online Etymology Dictionary (2001).

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      Last modified on 10 November 2012, at 20:08