shot (redirected from giving it best shot)

be shot of someone/something

get shot of someone/something - to get rid of someone or something. This boy has caused so much trouble that the school just want to be shot of him.

be shot to hell/pieces (informal)

to be destroyed or in a very bad condition. His nerves were shot to hell after only 2 years in that job.

See also: hell, piece

a big shot/wheel (American & Australian, informal)

an important or powerful person in a group or organization. Mr Madison is a big shot in the world of finance.

See also: big, wheel

call the shots/tune

to be the person who makes all the important decisions and who has the most power in a situation. She was used to calling the shots, to being in charge.

See also: call, tune

a cheap shot

a criticism of someone that is not fair. She dismissed his comments as a 'cheap shot', saying that he was only concerned to defend himself. Federal bureaucracy is the target for every cheap shot artist (= someone who likes criticizing other people) in America.

See also: cheap

fire a shot across someone's/the bows (slightly formal)

if you fire a shot across someone's bows, you do something in order to warn them that you will take strong action if they do not change their behaviour. Airline staff have fired a warning shot across the company's bows by threatening strike action if higher pay increases are not offered.

See also: across, bow, fire

get shot of someone/something (British, informal)

to get rid of someone or something. She got shot of her no-good husband and went back to university.

give something a shot (informal)

have a shot at something - to try to do something, often for the first time. I've never been ice skating but I'll give it a shot.

See also: give

give it a shot/whirl (informal)

to attempt to do something. I've never danced Salsa before but I'll give it a shot.

See also: give, whirl

give it your best shot

to do something as well as you possibly can, although you are not sure whether you will be able to succeed. Greg will be a tough opponent to beat, but I'll give it my best shot.

See also: best, give

have a shot at someone (Australian, informal)

to criticize someone. It's clear the film's director was having a shot at the government.

have a shot at something (British, American & Australian, informal, American, informal)

to try to do something, often for the first time. He's proven himself to be a talented actor and now he's having a shot at directing his first play.

like a shot

if someone does something like a shot, they do it quickly and eagerly. If I had the chance to go to Paris, I'd be there like a shot.

See also: like

a long shot

something that will probably not succeed but is worth trying. It's a long shot but I could call Tony and see if he knows her address.

See also: long

not by a long shot (informal, old-fashioned)

something that you say when you think something is not at all true. 'Do you think it's as good as her last movie?' 'No, not by a long shot.' It's not over yet, not by a long chalk, we still have a very good chance of winning.

See also: long

one-shot (American)

happening only once. The new current affairs show will be given a one-shot trial on TV next Saturday. (always before noun) The company's offer is a one-shot deal.

a parting shot

a remark that you say as you are leaving somewhere so that it has a strong effect. Her parting shot was 'I'm going to spend the evening with people who appreciate my company!'

See also: parting

a shot in the arm (informal)

if something gives you a shot in the arm, it gives you encouragement or energy. The opening of a new research centre will give a much-needed shot in the arm for science in Britain.

See also: arm

a shot in the dark

an attempt to guess something when you have no information or knowledge about it. The whole theory is a shot in the dark - no-one will ever take us seriously.

See also: dark

take a pot shot

to criticize someone suddenly. As the director was finishing his speech he took a pot shot at their rival's lack of principles. (often + at)

See also: pot, take

---

call the shots

to make the important decisions. The company was more successful when just one or two people were calling the shots.

call the tune

run the show

See also: call

give something a shot

to make an attempt to do something. Jason's father always thought he would be a great baseball player, and encouraged Jason to give it a shot.

See also: give

give something your best shot

to try as hard as possible to achieve something. We gave it our best shot, but we still don't know what's wrong with the computer.

See also: best, give

like a shot

very quickly and eagerly. If I had the chance to go to Paris, I'd be there like a shot.

See also: like

not by a long shot

not at all. “Do you think it's as good as her last movie?” “ No, not by a long shot.”

Usage notes: sometimes used in the form not do something by a long shot: We haven't eliminated the disease by a long shot.

See also: long

a shot across the bow

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

a shot in the arm

a strong positive influence. Winning this award is a big shot in the arm for our students.

See also: arm

a shot in the dark

an attempt to do something without knowing much about it. When I applied for the scholarship, it was just a shot in the dark – I had no idea how important and competitive it was.

See also: dark

take a shot at something

to make an attempt to do something. I wasn't sure of the answer, but I thought I'd take a shot at it anyway. He's proven himself to be a talented actor and now he's having a shot at directing.

give something a whirl

See also: take