Word
hotshot
Phoneticshot·shot, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈhɑˌʃɑt/
UK/hˈɒtʃɒt/
Countable noun
Definition
n. someone who is very successful or talented and knows it. You use this for a person who is confident and perhaps a bit showy about their skills.
n. a person who is conspicuously successful, talented, or influential, often in a way that suggests arrogance.
Examples
“The new hotshot in the office thinks he can fix everything.”
“The team signed a young hotshot from the minor leagues who immediately started breaking records.”
“Despite his reputation as a corporate hotshot, he found that navigating the nuanced politics of the executive board required more than just raw ambition.”
Examples
simple
“The new hotshot in the office thinks he can fix everything.”
contextual
“The team signed a young hotshot from the minor leagues who immediately started breaking records.”
complex
“Despite his reputation as a corporate hotshot, he found that navigating the nuanced politics of the executive board required more than just raw ambition.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “hotshot” in context.
Verb
01. hire hotshot
“They decided to hire a hotshot from Silicon Valley to lead the tech team.”
verb + noun
02. hotshot arrives
“The office atmosphere changed the moment the new hotshot arrived.”
noun + verb
03. hotshot joins
“A marketing hotshot joins the department next week to revamp the brand.”
noun + verb
04. recruit hotshot
“The agency is looking to recruit a hotshot to boost their sales figures.”
verb + noun
Adjective
05. arrogant hotshot
“Nobody liked working with him because he was such an arrogant hotshot.”
adj + noun
06. corporate hotshot
“He was a corporate hotshot who climbed the ladder in record time.”
adj + noun
07. legal hotshot
“The firm hired a legal hotshot to handle the high-profile merger.”
adj + noun
08. young hotshot
“The veteran players weren't happy about the young hotshot taking their spot.”
adj + noun
Noun
09. team of hotshots
“The project was managed by a team of hotshots from the head office.”
noun + prep + noun
10. act like a hotshot
“He started acting like a hotshot as soon as he got his first promotion.”
11. some big-city hotshot
“The locals didn't trust some big-city hotshot telling them how to farm.”
12. think one is a hotshot
“Just because you won one award doesn't mean you can think you're a hotshot.”
Usage
Often used with a slightly critical or mocking tone to suggest the person is overconfident.
Real-World Examples
“The 33-Year-Old AI Hotshot Taking Silicon Valley Swagger Back to Beijing” Etymology
From hot + shot.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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