shotgun

[ shot-guhn ]
/ ˈʃɒtˌgʌn /

noun

a smoothbore gun for firing small shots to kill birds and small quadrupeds, though often used with buckshot to kill larger animals.
Football. an offensive formation, designed primarily for passing situations, in which the backfield is spread out with the quarterback positioned a few yards behind the center and the other backs, as potential pass receivers, positioned as slotbacks or flankers.

adjective

verb (used with object), shot·gunned, shot·gun·ning.

to fire a shotgun at.

Idioms for shotgun

    ride shotgun,
    1. (formerly) to ride atop a stagecoach as a shotgun-bearing guard.
    2. to protect or keep a watchful eye on something: riding shotgun over the nation's economy.

Origin of shotgun

An Americanism dating back to 1770–80; shot1 + gun1

British Dictionary definitions for ride shotgun

shotgun
/ (ˈʃɒtˌɡʌn) /

noun

  1. a shoulder firearm with unrifled bore designed for the discharge of small shot at short range and used mainly for hunting small game
  2. (as modifier)shotgun fire
American football an offensive formation in which the quarterback lines up for a snap unusually far behind the line of scrimmage

adjective

mainly US involving coercion or duress a shotgun merger
mainly US involving or relying on speculative suggestions, etc a shotgun therapy

verb -guns, -gunning or -gunned

(tr) US to shoot or threaten with or as if with a shotgun

Idioms and Phrases with ride shotgun (1 of 2)

ride shotgun

Guard someone or something while in transit, as in The reporter found himself in the odd position of riding shotgun for an accused mobster. This term alludes to the armed defender of a stagecoach who sat beside the driver to protect against marauders and bandits. Later it was transferred to anyone riding in the front passenger seat of a motor vehicle, as well as to the more general function of protection. [Mid-1900s]

Idioms and Phrases with ride shotgun (2 of 2)

shotgun