bean shot: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal, slang
Quick answer
What does “bean shot” mean?
A single shot from a gun, usually aimed at a person or target.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A single shot from a gun, usually aimed at a person or target.
Can refer to a single, decisive, or attempted act, often implying lethality or serious intent.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More common in American English, particularly in informal, colloquial speech. In British English, equivalent slang might be 'taking a pop'.
Connotations
Both varieties carry the primary connotation of a single, often lethal, gunshot. In casual use, it can carry a darkly humorous or dramatic tone.
Frequency
Very low frequency in formal contexts in both varieties. More likely to appear in crime fiction, dialogue, or informal narratives, with slightly higher frequency in AmE.
Grammar
How to Use “bean shot” in a Sentence
[SUBJECT] took a bean shot at [OBJECT][SUBJECT] was felled by a single bean shotVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bean shot” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He'll bean shot the target from there.
- They threatened to bean shot the lock off.
American English
- He tried to bean shot the tin can off the fence.
- The sniper bean shot the engine block.
adverb
British English
- He fired bean-shot, hitting the mark.
- The pistol went off bean-shot.
American English
- He shot bean-shot through the window.
- Take it out bean-shot.
adjective
British English
- It was a bean-shot wound to the shoulder.
- He had a bean-shot rifle.
American English
- They found a bean-shot casing.
- He described the bean-shot damage.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Not used, except in literary analysis of slang.
Everyday
Used informally, often hyperbolically or in storytelling ('I was about to take a bean shot at that test').
Technical
Not used in formal firearms terminology.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bean shot”
- Using it for a series of shots ('bean shots').
- Using it in formal writing.
- Confusing it with 'beanbag round' (a less-lethal projectile).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it specifies the action of firing a single shot. It implies intent or effect, but not necessarily a lethal outcome.
No, it is quite rare and dated. It's more likely found in older fiction or used for stylistic effect.
Yes, it can be used to describe a single, decisive attempt or criticism, e.g., 'Her article was a bean shot at the mayor's reputation.'
The etymology is unclear but 'bean' has been old American slang for a coin or something of little value, possibly extending to a small, singular unit of ammunition.
A single shot from a gun, usually aimed at a person or target.
Bean shot is usually informal, slang in register.
Bean shot: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbiːn ˌʃɒt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbiːn ˌʃɑːt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “He's worth more than a bean shot (very dismissive of someone's value).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a SINGLE coffee BEAN being fired from a gun – one 'bean shot'.
Conceptual Metaphor
VIOLENCE IS A MEASURED COMMODITY (e.g., a single unit of violence).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'bean shot' LEAST appropriate?