# shotgun approach

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/shotgun-approach
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

An approach in which the subject is indiscriminate and haphazard, using breadth, spread, or quantity in lieu of accuracy, planning, etc.

## Examples

- Using a shotgun approach to job hunting rarely works well.
- The marketing team used a shotgun approach, sending emails to thousands of people who were not interested in our product.
- Rather than refining his research to target specific demographics, the professor employed a shotgun approach, gathering vast amounts of data in hopes that something significant would emerge.

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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.