# shoot from the lip

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/shoot-from-the-lip
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To speak confidently and unhesitantly but without careful forethought or a reliable knowledge of important facts pertaining to the subject matter.

## Examples

- He often shoots from the lip without checking the facts first.
- I often shoot from the lip when I feel nervous in social situations.
- Stop shooting from the lip and listen to the actual instructions.
- During the meeting, the manager shot from the lip and promised a deadline that the team could not possibly meet.
- You should prepare your presentation carefully instead of shooting from the lip and giving the clients incorrect pricing information.
- The young intern shot from the lip during the interview, claiming she knew how to use software that she had never actually opened.
- The politician was known to shoot from the lip, frequently making bold claims that lacked any foundation in reality or evidence.

## Origin

The phrase emerged as a humorous alteration of the earlier idiom shoot from the hip. The original expression referred to the speed of a gunslinger's draw, while this variant substitutes the anatomical location to indicate an equivalent lack of restraint in speech.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.