shotgun
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a long gun that fires many small metal balls at once instead of a single bullet.
n.a smoothbore firearm designed to fire a number of small pellets, or shot, typically used for hunting or security.
Simple“The farmer kept a shotgun in the shed to protect his chickens from foxes.”
In context“Unlike a rifle which fires a single projectile, a shotgun disperses a cloud of lead or steel pellets, making it effective for hitting moving targets at close range.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.the seat next to the driver in a car.
n.the front passenger seat of a vehicle. Derived from the historical position of an armed guard on a stagecoach.
Simple“I called shotgun, so I get to sit in the front and pick the music.”
In context“The children raced to the driveway, each shouting 'shotgun' in an attempt to secure the most comfortable seat for the long journey ahead.”
Synonymspassenger seatAntonymsback seat - 03 C2 Proficiency
n.a narrow, one-story house where the rooms are in a straight line with no hallways.
n.a narrow, rectangular residential dwelling, usually no more than 12 feet wide, with rooms arranged one behind the other and doors at each end.
Simple“Many historic neighborhoods in New Orleans are famous for their colorful shotgun houses.”
In context“The architectural survey highlighted the preservation of nineteenth-century shotgun dwellings, noting their efficient use of narrow urban lots and natural ventilation.”
Synonymsshotgun housecottage - 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to say out loud that you want something before anyone else can take it.
v.to verbally assert a primary claim to a resource or position, such as a seat or a bedroom.
Simple“I shotgun the biggest bedroom in the new apartment.”
In context“Before the group had even reached the hotel lobby, Mark had already shotgunned the top bunk, much to the annoyance of his younger brother.”
Synonymsclaimbagsy - 05 C1 Advanced
v.to drink the contents of a can very fast by making a hole in the bottom.
v.to consume a canned beverage rapidly by puncturing a hole in the side near the base and opening the top tab to increase flow.
Simple“The college students were shotgunning sodas at the end of the race.”
In context“The practice of shotgunning beverages is a common, albeit messy, sight at American tailgate parties and fraternity events.”
- 06 C1 Advanced
v.to send out many requests or try many solutions at once, hoping one will work.
v.to employ an indiscriminate or wide-ranging approach to a problem, such as sending numerous identical requests or testing multiple variables simultaneously.
Simple“Instead of fixing the specific bug, he tried shotgunning the code with random changes.”
In context“The developer decided to shotgun the API requests to several servers at once to see which one would respond the respond the fastest.”
From shot + gun. Front passenger seat sense comes from ride shotgun.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.