shotgun

Pluralshotguns

Formsshotguns, shotgunning, shotgunned

1. 1
   nouncountable

   A gun that fires a cartridge full of small metal balls.

   Grandpa keeps a shotgun for hunting ducks.

   The farmer fired his shotgun into the air to scare off the crows.

   Similarscattergun

   Note
2. 2
   calling firstnounslanguncountable

   The seat next to the driver in a car, or something else you claim first, like a bedroom.

   My little brother always calls shotgun before I'm even out the door.

   Grandma rode shotgun so she could see the road.

   Note
3. 3
   verbcolloquialtransitive

   To say out loud that something is yours.

   I shotgunned the last slice of pizza by calling out that it was mine.

   If you want the window seat, you have to shotgun it first.

   Similarclaim

4. 4
   wide netnoununcountablebefore a noun

   Trying lots of different things at once, without much aim, to get a result.

   The company took a shotgun approach and sent ads to everyone in the city.

   His shotgun studying, a little of every subject, didn't help on the test.

   Note
5. 5
   under threatnoununcountablebefore a noun

   Forced on someone by threats or by unfair means.

   They had a shotgun wedding a month after she found out she was pregnant.

   The workers called it a shotgun deal, signed under pressure.

   Note
6. 6
   football formationnounusually singular

   A way of lining up in American football where the quarterback stands back from the center to get the ball.

   The team lined up in the shotgun on third down.

   Our quarterback likes the shotgun because he can see the field better.

   Note
7. 7
   firearmnouncountable or uncountablebefore a noun

   Having to do with shotguns, now or in the past.

   Dad keeps the shotgun shells in a locked box.

   We heard shotgun blasts from the woods all through hunting season.

8. 8
   drink fastverbslangUStransitive

   To drink a whole can very fast by making a hole in the bottom and opening the top.

   At the party, two guys tried to shotgun their sodas at the same time.

   He shotgunned a can of root beer and burped loudly.

   Similarchug

9. 9
   narrow housenoundialectalSouthern USUScountable

   A house on one floor with no halls, where the rooms are in one straight line.

   My grandmother grew up in a little shotgun in New Orleans.

   The street was lined with brightly painted shotguns.

   Note
10. 10
    send manyverbslangUStransitive

    To send out lots of things, like letters or guesses, hoping at least one works.

    She shotgunned her résumé to fifty companies in one weekend.

    Don't just shotgun answers at the teacher. Think first.

    Similarspam

    Note

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