ENGLISH
REFERENCE

shoot the bull

idiom
Meaning

To chinwag; to talk idly.


Examples
SIMPLE

We sat on the porch to shoot the bull for an hour.

CONTEXTUAL

After the long meeting finished, the coworkers stayed behind to shoot the bull about their weekend plans.

COMPLEX

The old men gathered at the local diner every morning to shoot the bull, discussing everything from local politics to the changing weather.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    Banbury story of a cock and a bull

    A roundabout, nonsensical story.

  2. 02

    bull in a china shop

    A person who is clumsy, aggressive, without care, concern or self-control.

  3. 03

    bull session

    An informal discursive group discussion, often one where politics, economics or current events are discussed.

  4. 04

    grab the bull by the horns

    Synonym of take the bull by the horns.

  5. 05

    shoot 'em up

    A piece of media which depicts considerable gunplay.

  6. 06

    shoot down

    To criticize (a request) to the point of preclusion.

  7. 07

    shoot first and ask questions later

    To take hasty, immediate action with serious consequences, without first adequately investigating the situation.

  8. 08

    shoot from the lip

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

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