ENGLISH
REFERENCE

who shot John

idiom
Meaning

Long and involved explanation, finger-pointing, or assignment of credit or blame.


Origin

First attested in the 1860s as a game among students at British military academies; in later use, chiefly US.

Examples
SIMPLE

I do not want to hear the whole who shot John about this.

CONTEXTUAL

When the project failed, the manager gave us a long who shot John instead of fixing the problem.

COMPLEX

The committee meeting devolved into an exhausting who shot John, with each member desperately trying to deflect responsibility for the budget deficit.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    anybody who is anybody

    Any person who is well-known or important, especially one who has prominent social standing.

  2. 02

    big shot

    A person with a reputation of importance or power.

  3. 03

    chip shot

    Something that is easy to do or to achieve.

  4. 04

    dog who caught the tire

    One who accomplishes a seemingly impossible feat, but does not know what to do next.

  5. 05

    everybody who is anybody

    All of the people who are well-known or important, especially those who have prominent social standing.

  6. 06

    give it one's best shot

    To make one's best effort or attempt; to try as hard as possible.

  7. 07

    long shot

    Something unlikely; something that has little chance of happening or working; long odds

  8. 08

    parting shot

    An insult or barbed comment issued as the speaker departs or the conversation comes to an end.

© 2026 English Reference