lowerunit411
Member
It is amazing the impact guns, hunting and shooting has had on our culture. They have in many cases always been a part of our heritage. Often these terms are used daily in converstions that have little to do with guns or hunting etc, but whos origins are from that heritage. Some of these have funny meanings in pop culture, far different from their historical origins, and a lot of there terms are hundreds of years old. Kinda cool! Here are some i thought of. What can you add to the list?:
Lock, stock and barrel: The three basic components that make a complete rifle. The whole. In its entirety. Complete.
A flash in the pan: On a flintlock, when the priming powder in the pan ignites with a flash, but doesn't ignite the powder charge in the barrel, resulting in a misfire. Uneventful. A disappointment. Short-lived.
Fizzled out: When a cannon fuse goes out before it reaches the powder charge, thus not firing the cannon. Similar to a flash in the pan. A let down, especially when expecting a big bang.
A loose cannon: An unsecured cannon on the deck of a ship could cause damage, injury or death when being tossed about in rough seas. Even land cannons needed to be secured when firing because of the recoil causes them to lurch backwards causing damage or injury. Unpredictable, out of control and likely to cause damage.
A powder keg: Volatile and potentially explosive.
Short fuse: A short fuse would burn quickly, firing the cannon abruptly. Quick to ignite. Quick tempered.
Half-cocked: A gun with an exposed hammer in the half-cock position on safe. In the heat of battle, if a gun was carried on half-cock, shouldered and trigger squeezed, it would not fire — a possibly fatal error. Ill prepared.
Shooting one's mouth off: Outspoken.
He (or she) must chew gunpowder: Always shooting his (or her) mouth off.
He's like a loose cannon, always running around half-cocked shooting his mouth off. A combination of the above.
Not worth the powder to blow it to hell: Junk. Worthless.
Give 'em both barrels: When pulling both triggers on a double-barreled shotgun to fire both barrels simultaneously. To holding nothing back.
Loaded for bear: Keeping a heavy powder charge in your rifle when expecting large and dangerous game. Heavily charged with fury and looking for a fight.
Gunning for someone: Enraged in aggressive pursuit with intent to harm.
Showdown: In the Old West when two men faced off to settle a dispute by gunfight. A challenge or contest between rivals. A meeting to settle a dispute.
Shoot yourself in the foot: Self-induced consequences or setback.
Just shoot me: A cynical way of asking to end one's misery and suffering.
Shoot from the hip: To quick-draw a handgun from its holster and fire instantaneously, without taking the time to raise the gun and aim. To speak abruptly and tell it like it is.
A straight shooter: Someone who speaks truthfully.
Shooting the bull or the breeze: Engaged in conversation. (The High Road version).
Take a shot at it: Give it a try.
Shooting for it: To plan for or attempt to attain a goal.
Shooting for the stars: Aspiring to a lofty goal, although seemingly out of reach.
???feel free to add to this.
Lock, stock and barrel: The three basic components that make a complete rifle. The whole. In its entirety. Complete.
A flash in the pan: On a flintlock, when the priming powder in the pan ignites with a flash, but doesn't ignite the powder charge in the barrel, resulting in a misfire. Uneventful. A disappointment. Short-lived.
Fizzled out: When a cannon fuse goes out before it reaches the powder charge, thus not firing the cannon. Similar to a flash in the pan. A let down, especially when expecting a big bang.
A loose cannon: An unsecured cannon on the deck of a ship could cause damage, injury or death when being tossed about in rough seas. Even land cannons needed to be secured when firing because of the recoil causes them to lurch backwards causing damage or injury. Unpredictable, out of control and likely to cause damage.
A powder keg: Volatile and potentially explosive.
Short fuse: A short fuse would burn quickly, firing the cannon abruptly. Quick to ignite. Quick tempered.
Half-cocked: A gun with an exposed hammer in the half-cock position on safe. In the heat of battle, if a gun was carried on half-cock, shouldered and trigger squeezed, it would not fire — a possibly fatal error. Ill prepared.
Shooting one's mouth off: Outspoken.
He (or she) must chew gunpowder: Always shooting his (or her) mouth off.
He's like a loose cannon, always running around half-cocked shooting his mouth off. A combination of the above.
Not worth the powder to blow it to hell: Junk. Worthless.
Give 'em both barrels: When pulling both triggers on a double-barreled shotgun to fire both barrels simultaneously. To holding nothing back.
Loaded for bear: Keeping a heavy powder charge in your rifle when expecting large and dangerous game. Heavily charged with fury and looking for a fight.
Gunning for someone: Enraged in aggressive pursuit with intent to harm.
Showdown: In the Old West when two men faced off to settle a dispute by gunfight. A challenge or contest between rivals. A meeting to settle a dispute.
Shoot yourself in the foot: Self-induced consequences or setback.
Just shoot me: A cynical way of asking to end one's misery and suffering.
Shoot from the hip: To quick-draw a handgun from its holster and fire instantaneously, without taking the time to raise the gun and aim. To speak abruptly and tell it like it is.
A straight shooter: Someone who speaks truthfully.
Shooting the bull or the breeze: Engaged in conversation. (The High Road version).
Take a shot at it: Give it a try.
Shooting for it: To plan for or attempt to attain a goal.
Shooting for the stars: Aspiring to a lofty goal, although seemingly out of reach.
???feel free to add to this.
