- a shot across the bows
- Meaning
A warning shot.OriginFrom the naval practise of firing a cannon shot across the bows of an opponent's ship to show them that you are capable of doing battle.
Meaning and origin of phrases. 2013.
a shot across the bows
Look at other dictionaries:
a shot across the bows — One thus directed so as to warn a ship off rather than damage it (often figurative) • • • Main Entry: ↑shot * * * I a (warning) shot across the bows a statement or gesture intended to frighten someone into changing their course of action… … Useful english dictionary
a shot across the bows — ► a shot across the bows a warning statement or gesture. Main Entry: ↑bow … English terms dictionary
(a) shot across the bows — a shot across the/sb s ˈbows idiom something that you say or do as a warning to sb about what might happen if they do not change, etc. Main entry: ↑shotidiom … Useful english dictionary
fire a shot across the bows — 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… … New idioms dictionary
a shot across the bows — a warning statement or gesture. → bow out … English new terms dictionary
a shot across the/someone's bows — a shot across the/someone s bow(s) : a warning to not do something or to stop doing something The fine is a shot across the bow to an industry that thinks it can ignore the law. • • • Main Entry: ↑shot … Useful english dictionary
fire a shot across someone's — 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… … New idioms dictionary
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… … New idioms dictionary
(a) shot across somebody's bows — a shot across the/sb s ˈbows idiom something that you say or do as a warning to sb about what might happen if they do not change, etc. Main entry: ↑shotidiom … Useful english dictionary
shot — shot1 [ʃɔt US ʃa:t] n ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(gun)¦ 2¦(bullets)¦ 3¦(attempt to score)¦ 4¦(photograph)¦ 5¦(film/tv)¦ 6¦(attempt)¦ 7 give something your best shot 8 be a long shot 9 a 10 to 1 shot/50 to 1 shot etc 10 a shot in the dark … Dictionary of contemporary English
