| parting shot | |
| —n | |
| Also called: Parthian shot a hostile remark or gesture delivered while departing | |
| a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, etc. |
| a chattering or flighty, light-headed person. |
parting shot definition
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parting shot
A final insult or last word in an argument, as in As she stalked out, Jane hurled as a parting shot, "And I quit!" This idiom apparently originated as a corruption of Parthian shot, referring to the practice of ancient Parthian warriors of turning back to shoot at their pursuers. [Late 1800s]