pot shot
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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.