shot heard round the world
Any cataclysmic event
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“The sudden market crash was a shot heard round the world.”
“When the popular social media platform shut down unexpectedly, it was a shot heard round the world for digital businesses everywhere.”
“The unexpected resignation of the long-serving prime minister acted as a shot heard round the world, triggering political instability across the entire continent.”
first recorded 19th c.
From the 1837 poem Concord Hymn by Ralph Waldo Emerson.
- 01
albatross round one's neck
Alternative form of albatross around one's neck.
- 02
all over the world
throughout the world, everywhere, worldwide, globally.
- 03
ask round
To enquire of several people.
- 04
beat someone round the ears
To beat (a person) with blows about the head.
- 05
best of both worlds
A combination of two seemingly contradictory benefits.
- 06
big shot
A person with a reputation of importance or power.
- 07
bring round
To resuscitate; to cause to regain consciousness.
- 08
chip shot
Something that is easy to do or to achieve.
Last updated August 10, 2026