Word origins - 2ed. J. Ayto. 2005.
Potshot — can refer to at least two things: * Potshot : a Spenser novel by Robert B. Parker * Potshot, a former J ska music group from Japan … Wikipedia
potshot — (n.) 1858, shot taken at animal simply to kill for food, in other words, to get it in the pot, not for sporting or marksmanship; from POT (Cf. pot) (n.1) + SHOT (Cf. shot) (n.). Extended sense of opportunistic criticism first recorded 1926 … Etymology dictionary
potshot — ► NOUN ▪ a shot aimed unexpectedly or at random. ORIGIN originally a shot at an animal intended for the pot, i.e. for food, rather than for display (which would require skilled shooting) … English terms dictionary
potshot — [pät′shät΄] n. 1. a pothunter s shot 2. an easy shot, as at close range 3. a random shot 4. a haphazard try 5. a random criticism or attack … English World dictionary
potshot — I. noun Etymology: from the notion that such a shot is unsportsmanlike and worthy only of one whose object is to fill the cooking pot Date: 1858 1. a shot taken from ambush or at a random or easy target 2. a critical remark made in a random or… … New Collegiate Dictionary
potshot — /pot shot /, n., v., potshot or potshotted, potshotting. n. 1. a shot fired at game merely for food, with little regard to skill or the rules of sport. 2. a shot at an animal or person within easy range, as from ambush. 3. a casual or aimless… … Universalium
potshot — n. (colloq.) critical remark to take a potshot at * * * (colloq.) [ critical remark ] to take a potshot at … Combinatory dictionary
potshot — Synonyms and related words: aspersion, blind bargain, bowshot, bullet, cannon, chance at odds, charge, cock, crack, criticism, cut, detonate, detonation, dig, discharge, drop, eject, ejection, fell, fire, fire off, fusillade, gambling chance,… … Moby Thesaurus
potshot — [19] A potshot was originally a shot taken at an animal or bird simply in order to kill it for food – in order to get it into the ‘pot’, in other words – rather than in accordance with the strict code and precise techniques of shooting as a… … The Hutchinson dictionary of word origins
potshot n — With a gun in the kitchen you can take a potshot … English expressions
potshot — n. a sharp criticism; a wild shot of criticism. (Usually with take.) □ Please stop taking potshots at me! □ He took a potshot at my old car … Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions
