like a shot Definition

shot¹
noun

1. An act of shooting or firing a gun.
2. The sound of a gun being fired.

Thesaurus: gunfire, blast, explosion, detonation.
3. mining.
An explosive charge or blast.
4. Small metal pellets collectively, fired in clusters from a shotgun.
5. A cannonball.
6. A single piece of filmed action recorded without a break by one camera.
7. A photographic exposure.
8. The range or extent of a camera.

Example: out of shot
9. A person considered in terms of their ability to fire a gun accurately.

Example: a good shot
10. sport.
An act or instance of shooting or playing a stroke eg in tennis, snooker, etc.
11. athletics.
A heavy metal ball thrown in the shot put.
12. colloq
An attempt.
Example: I'll have a shot at it
Thesaurus: chance, attempt, opportunity, turn, crack, go, stab.
13. colloq
A spell or stint.
14. colloq
A turn or go.
Example: I'll have a shot at it now
15. colloq
A guess.
Example: Have a shot at the answer
16. An aggressive remark.
17. colloq
An injection.
18a. The flight of a missile;
18b. The distance it travels.
19. A reach or range.
(N Amer, especially US)
20. colloq
A small drink of alcoholic spirit; a dram.
21. The launch of a spacecraft, especially a rocket.

Example: moon shot

Idiom: call the shots

See under call.

Idiom: like a shot

Extremely quickly or without hesitation; eagerly or willingly.

Idiom: a long shot

A bet with little chance of success.
Example: It's a long shot, but I'll have a try

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon sceot.