shoot someone or something down Definition

shoot
verb shot, shooting

tr & intr
1. To fire a gun or other weapon.
2. To fire bullets, arrows or other missiles.

Thesaurus: fire, discharge, ignite, blast, set off, explode.
3. To hit, wound or kill with a weapon or missile.

Thesaurus: murder, execute, kill, knock off (slang), wound.
4. To let fly with force.

Example: The geyser shot water high into the air
5. To launch or direct forcefully and rapidly.

Example: He shot questions at them
tr & intr
6. To move or make someone or something move or progress quickly.

Example: That last victory shot them to the top of the table
Thesaurus: dart, hasten, hurry, rush, dash, charge, race, sprint, streak.
7. colloq
To depart quickly.
Example: I have to shoot or I'll miss my train
Form: shoot off (also)
8. colloq
To tip out or dump (eg rubbish).
tr & intr
9. sport.
To strike (the ball, etc) at goal.
10. golf.
To score, for a hole or the round.
tr & intr
11. To film (motion pictures), or take photographs of someone or something.
12. To variegate by adding different coloured specks of colour.

Example: Her dress was black shot with burgundy
intr
13. Said of pain: to dart with a stabbing sensation.
14. To pull (one's shirt sleeves) forward so that they protrude from the sleeves of one's jacket.
15. To slide (a bolt) along.
16. To slide a bolt into or out of its lock.
17. To elongate rapidly.
18. To protrude or jut out far or suddenly.
19. colloq
To begin to speak one's mind or tell what one knows
Example: Go on, shoot!
20. To tower.
21. To throw or cast a die or dice.
22. To detonate.
intr
23. To dart forth or forwards.
24. Said of a cricket ball: to start forward rapidly near the ground.
intr
25. To use a bow or gun in practice, competition, hunting, etc.

Example: He likes to shoot regularly
intr
26. Said of a plant: to produce new growth; to sprout.
intr
27. Said of a plant, especially a vegetable: to produce unwanted flowers and seeds.
28. colloq
To pass through (red traffic lights) without stopping.
29. colloq
To pass quickly through something.
Example: shoot rapids
30. slang
To play a game of eg pool or golf; to have as a score at golf.
Example: We could shoot pool at the club later
31. slang
To inject (especially oneself) with (drugs) illegally.

noun

1. An act of shooting.
2. A shooting match or party.
3. An outing or expedition to hunt animals with firearms.
4. An area of land within which animals are hunted in this way.
5. The shooting of a film or a photographic modelling session.
6. A new or young plant growth.

Thesaurus: branch, bud, twig, sprig, sprout.
7. The sprouting of a plant.
8. A dump or rubbish chute.

Idiom: shoot a line

slang
To brag or exaggerate.

Idiom: shoot ahead

To advance quickly in front of others, eg in a race.

Idiom: shoot someone down in flames

To scold or reprimand severely.

To destroy or humiliate, especially by the strength of one's argument.
Example: His speech was shot down in flames by the opposition

Idiom: shoot from the hip

colloq
To speak hastily, bluntly or directly, without preparation or concern for the consequences.

Idiom: shoot home

To hit the target.

To put across an opinion, etc.
Example: I think you've shot the point home

Idiom: shoot it out

To settle (a dispute, competition, etc) by military action.

Idiom: shoot oneself in the foot

colloq
To injure or harm one's own interests by ineptitude.

Idiom: shoot one's mouth off

colloq
To speak freely, indiscreetly or boastfully.

Idiom: shoot through

slang
To escape or leave quickly.

Idiom: the whole shoot (the whole shooting-match)

colloq
The whole lot.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon sceotan.

Phrasal Verb: shoot someone or something down

To fire guns at an aircraft so as to make it crash.To kill with gunfire.To dismiss mercilessly with criticism or ridicule.

Phrasal Verb: shoot up

To grow or increase extremely quickly.
Example: He has really shot up since I last saw him

Phrasal Verb: shoot someone up

To kill or injure by shooting.

Phrasal Verb: shoot something up

To inject (heroin, etc).