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shoot down

 [shoot-doun] Origin

shoot·down

  [shoot-doun]
noun
1.
the attack and destruction of an aircraft in flight.
2.
the shooting and killing of someone in cold blood.
Also, shoot-down.

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Shoot down is always a great word to know.
So is flibbertigibbet. Does it mean:
the offspring of a zebra and a donkey.
a chattering or flighty, light-headed person.
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Dictionary.com Unabridged

shoot

1   [shoot] verb, shot, shoot·ing, noun
verb (used with object)
1.
to hit, wound, damage, kill, or destroy with a missile discharged from a weapon.
2.
to execute or put to death with a bullet: to be shot at sunrise.
3.
to send forth or discharge (a missile) from a weapon: to shoot a bullet.
4.
to discharge (a weapon): to shoot a gun.
5.
to send forth (words, ideas, etc.) rapidly: to shoot questions at someone.
EXPAND
6.
to fling; propel: The volcano shot lava high into the air.
7.
to direct suddenly or swiftly: Shoot the spotlight on the doorway. He shot a smile at his wife.
8.
to move suddenly; send swiftly along.
9.
to go over (country) in hunting game.
10.
to pass rapidly through, over, down, etc.: to shoot rapids.
11.
to emit (a ray or rays, as of light) suddenly, briefly, or intermittently.
12.
to variegate by threads, streaks, etc., of another color.
13.
to cause to extend or project: He shot out his arm and grabbed the ball.
14.
to discharge or empty, as down a chute: Do not shoot rubbish here!
15.
Sports.
a.
to throw, kick, or otherwise propel (a ball, puck, etc.), as at a goal or teammate.
b.
to score (a goal, points, etc.) by propelling the ball, puck, etc.
16.
Games. to propel (a marble) from the crook or first knuckle of the forefinger by flicking with the thumb.
17.
(in dice games)
a.
to throw (the dice or a specific number).
b.
to wager or offer to bet (a sum of money): I'll shoot ten bucks.
18.
Photography. to photograph or film.
19.
to put forth (buds, branches, etc.), as a plant.
20.
to slide (a bolt or the like) into or out of its fastening.
21.
to pull (one's cuffs) abruptly toward one's hands.
22.
Golf. to make a final score of (so many strokes): He shot a 73 on the first 18 holes of the tournament.
23.
to take the altitude of (a heavenly body): to shoot the sun.
24.
to detonate; cause to explode, as a charge of explosives.
25.
Aeronautics. to practice (a maneuver) by repetition: to shoot landings.
26.
Slang. to inject (an addictive drug) intravenously.
COLLAPSE
verb (used without object)
27.
to send forth missiles from a bow, firearm, or the like.
28.
to be discharged, as a firearm.
29.
to hunt with a gun for sport: He fishes, but he doesn't shoot.
30.
to move or pass suddenly or swiftly; spurt: The car shot ahead and was soon out of sight.
31.
Nautical. to acquire momentum and coast into the wind, as a sailboat in a confined area.
EXPAND
32.
to grow forth from the ground, as a stem.
33.
to put forth buds or shoots, as a plant; germinate.
34.
Photography. to photograph.
35.
Movies. to film or begin to film a scene or movie.
36.
to extend; jut: a cape shooting out into the sea.
37.
Sports, Games.
a.
to propel a ball, puck, etc., at a goal, basket, pocket, etc., or in a specific direction: He shot for the green with a five iron.
b.
to propel a ball in a specific way: The center shoots left-handed.
38.
to be felt by or flow through or permeate the body: Pain shot through his injured arm. Chills shot up and down her spine.
39.
to carry by force of discharge or momentum: The missile left its pad and shot thousands of miles into space.
40.
Informal. to begin, especially to begin to talk: I want to hear your complaint, so shoot!
COLLAPSE
noun
41.
the act of shooting with a bow, firearm, etc.
42.
Chiefly British. a hunting trip or expedition.
43.
a match or contest at shooting.
44.
a growing or sprouting, as of a plant.
45.
a new or young growth that shoots off from some portion of a plant.
EXPAND
46.
the amount of such growth.
47.
a young branch, stem, twig, or the like.
48.
a sprout that is not three feet high.
49.
a chute.
50.
Rocketry. the launching of a missile.
51.
Informal. a photographic assignment or session, as for a feature film or a television commercial: The actress is away on a shoot.
52.
Rowing. the interval between strokes.
53.
Mining.
a.
a small tunnel branching off from a larger tunnel.
b.
a narrow vein of ore.
COLLAPSE
Verb phrases
54.
shoot down,
a.
to cause to fall by hitting with a shot: They shot down several ducks.
b.
Informal. to disparage, reject, or expose as false or inadequate; debunk: to shoot down a popular theory.
55.
shoot for/at, to attempt to obtain or accomplish; strive toward: He is shooting for a higher production level.
56.
shoot up,
a.
to grow rapidly or suddenly.
b.
Informal. to damage or harass by reckless shooting: cowboys shooting up the town.
c.
to wound by shooting: He shot up the lion, but his guide killed it.
d.
Slang. to inject an addictive drug intravenously.
Idioms
57.
shoot from the hip, to act or speak without due consideration or deliberation.
58.
shoot off one's mouth/face, Slang.
a.
to talk indiscreetly, especially to reveal confidences, make thoughtless remarks, etc.
b.
to exaggerate: He likes to shoot off his mouth about what a great guy he is.
59.
shoot one's bolt. bolt1 (def. 28).
60.
shoot one's wad. wad1 (def. 13).
61.
shoot the breeze. breeze1 (def. 11).
EXPAND
62.
shoot the bull. bull3 (def. 2).
63.
shoot the works. work (def. 54).
COLLAPSE
Origin:
before 900; Middle English shoten (v.), Old English scēotan; cognate with Dutch schieten, German schiessen, Old Norse skjōta; akin to shot1

Synonyms
3, 5. project, impel, hurl, cast, throw. 17a. roll. 30. spring, start, dash, bolt, rush, fly. 36. project, protrude.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source Link To shoot down
Collins
World English Dictionary
shoot down
 
—vb
1.  to shoot callously
2.  to cause to fall to earth by hitting with a missile
3.  to defeat or disprove: he shot down her argument

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

shoot
"young branch of a tree or plant," mid-15c., from shoot (v.). Meaning "conduit for coal, etc." is from 1844. Shoot-out is from 1953.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Science Dictionary
shoot   (sht)  Pronunciation Key 
The part of a vascular plant that is above ground, including the stem and leaves. The tips of shoots contain the apical meristem.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Slang Dictionary

shoot definition


  1. tv. & in.
    and shoot up. to inject drugs, especially heroin. (Drugs.) : He actually had to leave the meeting to shoot.
  2. n.
    an injection of heroin. (Drugs. Usually shoot-up.) : The way Ernie was yawning, I knew he needed a shoot-up.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source

shoot (so or sth) down definition


  1. tv.
    to ruin someone or something; to debunk someone or something. (See also shot down.) : Just as I was making the final point, she shot me down with a simple fact I should have remembered.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Idioms & Phrases

shoot down

  1. Ruin the aspirations of, disappoint, as in Bill was hoping Sharon would go out with him, but she shot him down.

  2. Reject, defeat; also, expose as false. For example, It was the best idea I could come up with, but they unanimously shot it down, or It was inevitable that they would shoot down any claim made by the opposing candidate. This colloquial expression, which alludes to bringing down an aircraft or game bird by shooting, is sometimes intensified as shoot down in flames, originally (in World War I) referring to bringing down enemy aircraft but the late 1950s extended to decisively defeating anyone or anything.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
Cite This Source
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