ENGLISH
REFERENCE

shootout

n.
US //ˈʃutaʊt// UK //ʃˈuːtaʊt// shootout
  1. 1 sports tie-breaker (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Sport

    a way to decide the winner of a game that is tied, where players take turns trying to score goals.

    a tie-breaking procedure in sports, such as football or ice hockey, where a series of individual penalty shots determines the winner.

    Example

    The football match was so close that it had to be decided by a shootout.

    Example

    After a scoreless period of extra time, the championship was ultimately decided by a dramatic penalty shootout that lasted ten rounds.
    • penalty shootout
    • tie breaker
  2. 2 a gunfight (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a fight using guns between two groups of people, like the police and criminals.

    a decisive battle or confrontation involving an exchange of gunfire between opposing individuals or groups.

    Example

    The movie ended with a tense shootout between the hero and the villains.

    Example

    The historical account details a violent shootout at the border, which eventually led to a significant change in local law enforcement tactics.
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  1. 3 high-scoring game (n.)
    C1 Advanced Informal Sport

    a game where both teams score many points or goals.

    a match or competition characterized by high scoring from both participants, often implying a lack of defensive focus.

    Example

    The basketball game turned into a shootout, with both teams scoring over 120 points.

    Example

    What began as a tactical defensive struggle quickly devolved into an offensive shootout, much to the delight of the neutral spectators.
    • high scoring game
  2. 4 poker tournament style (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical

    a type of poker game where you must be the last player at your table to move to the next round.

    a multi-table poker tournament format where players must win their individual table to progress to the subsequent stage.

    Example

    He won his first table in the shootout and moved on to the semi-finals.

    Example

    The shootout format requires a different strategic approach than standard tournaments, as players cannot simply wait for others to be eliminated at different tables.

Origin

Deverbal from shoot out.

Word family
  • Nounshootout
  • Conjunctionso

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