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shot across the bow

Also found in: Wikipedia

0.07 sec.

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, shot

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short of
short on
short sharp shock
short shrift
short-arse
short-change
shot

shot across the bow
shot in the arm
shot in the dark
shotgun wedding
should
shoulder
shoulder to cry on
shoulder to shoulder

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