pot shot
See also: potshot
English edit
Alternative forms edit
Etymology edit
1858, shot taken for the (cooking) pot, namely for food; see pothunter.[1] Sense “opportunistic criticism” from 1926.[1]
Noun edit
- A haphazard shot with a firearm, taken with careless aim, often fired at a random target.
- A shot taken from a hidden stakeout.
- 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 edit
Translations edit
haphazard shot
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shot taken from hiding
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randomly said hurtful words
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References edit
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Douglas Harper (2001–2024), “pot shot”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.