a shot across the bow

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a warning to stop doing something The lawsuit is a shot across the bow to businesses that are competing unfairly.

Etymology: based on the military practice of aiming a shot across the bow ( a small explosion in front of a ship) to force it to stop

See also: across, bow, shot

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ENGLAND'S top players have given the England and Wales Cricket Board a shot across the bows after it was revealed half of them would consider quitting international cricket early to play in the Indian Premier League. We may pack in! by Huddersfield Daily Examiner (Huddersfield, England) Age Concern said: "We hope this significant report will act as a shot across the bow for the Department of Health to improve dementia services. Rap for UK on dementia by The Mirror (London, England) Byline: David Jones SHAREHOLDERS of oil giant BP fired a shot across the bows of the firm's board as anger over directors' pay overshadowed LordBrowne's last annualmeeting as chief executive. Outgoing BP chief's pay rapped at annual meeting by Daily Post (Liverpool, England)			a safe bet a safe pair of hands a safety net a safety valve a saving grace a scandal sheet a scaredy-cat a scarlet woman a sea change a second-class citizen a self-made man a seven-day wonder a sex kitten a sex object a shadow of former self a shaggy dog story a shelf life a shell game a shirt-lifter a shit-eating grin a shit-stirrer a shoo-in a short fuse a short sharp shock a short-arse a shot across the bow a shot in the arm a shot in the dark a shotgun wedding a shoulder to cry on a shouting match a show-stopper a shrinking violet a siege mentality a sight for sore eyes a sign of the times a significant other a sin tax a sine qua non a sinking feeling a sinking ship a sitting duck a skeleton in the/ closet a skeleton in the/ cupboard a slap in the face a slap on the back a slap on the wrist a slice of life a slice of the cake a slime ball a slip of the tongue			a shaggy dog story A share A Shared Initiative, Inc. A Shares A Sharing of Knowledge and Experience A Sharp A sheet in the wind a shelf life A Shell a shell game A ship's caliber A ship's husband A Shirt a shirt-lifter a shit-eating grin a shit-stirrer a shoo-in A short cut a short fuse A Short History of Nearly Everything a short sharp shock a short temper a short-arse A Shortcut to Justice A Shortcut to Justice A Shortcut to Justice a shot across the bow a shot across the bows a shot across the bows a shot across the bows a shot across the bows a shot at A Shot At Love a shot at someone A Shot in the Arm A Shot in the Dark A Shot in the Dark A Shot in the Dark A Shot in the Dark a shotgun marriage a shotgun wedding a shoulder to cry on a shouting match A Show of Fans A Show of Hands a show-stopper a shrinking violet a siege mentality a sight a sight a sight a sight A Sight for Sewn Eyes A Sight for Sore Eyes a sight for the gods a sight for the gods a sight for the gods

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