Phrases Related to Guns, Shooting, and Hunting in the English Language

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Speedo66

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Guns, shooting, and hunting were obviously very important in common life as so many phrases related to them have been incorporated into the English language. Still in use today, even by non gun owners.

I can think of a few off hand:

He fell for it, “lock, stock, and barrel”.

It was a good deal, so he decided to “pull the trigger”.

She was an honest person, a real “straight shooter”.

She had a tendency to be excitable and go off “half cocked”.

There are many more, what can you add to show the rich heritage of shooting in our common language? Let’s give those brain cells a little work out. lol
 
Back in school something or another died in the classroom and I said it had "shot its wad" 20 minutes later while setting in the principal's office for being perverse I got to hear the teacher told what a dumbass he was and his mind was in the gutter. Luckily the principal was a shooter and hunter and a pretty smart and fair guy in general (not that he didnt paddle (and possibly enjoy it) when we were stupid).

Today I'd probably get in more trouble for mentioning something to do with a gun than being perverse anyway. Times change.

Aim high is another.
It's a "powder keg"
Shotgun wedding
Shotgunning weed. ( I'm Sorry mom)
Bullseye!
 
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Gun related - "The whole nine yards"......... In reference to the belt fed wing machine guns of some WW2 fighter planes. Belt was 9 yards long. If a plane returned out of ammo it was said that the pilot had used the whole nine yards. Today just used to designate all of something, as in "the whole shebang".
 
Not expressions, but have you ever wondered why single pocket shirts always have the pocket on the left side? Or why, when a shirt has two pockets, they have closable flaps? I bet left handed rifle & shotgun shooters know...

Ever wonder why mens button down shirts have the buttons on the right and button holes on the left? Hint: It goes back to the day when men carried swords.

Bonus- Why are the buttons arranged the opposite way on womens blouses?
 
It really aggravates me to see the media misuse and bastardize a common term in shooting. That term is "MISFIRE."
I've seen the press or TV report say...."his gun misfired and he shot the wrong person." or "The policeman's gun misfired and he shot himself in the leg."
TV and radio people are not the brightest lot and all they do is pass on the stupid remarks used by others instead of using the correct term of "negligent shooting."
A gun misfires when you pull the trigger and it doesn't go off. We all know that, but the media does not know it. :( groan!
 
Someone is a couple of clicks off (center),
or a few rounds short of a full magazine.

He was a real dud. (or) Short round.

Something is wide of the mark.

Hunting related:
Couldn't hit a bear in the rear with a bull fiddle.

"Extinguish" the fire and call in the dogs.
 
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