cheap shot: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
MediumInformal
Quick answer
What does “cheap shot” mean?
An unfair, unethical, or unsportsmanlike attack that takes advantage of someone's vulnerability.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An unfair, unethical, or unsportsmanlike attack that takes advantage of someone's vulnerability.
A critical remark, action, or tactic in any context (sports, politics, personal relationships, debate) that is considered low, cowardly, or exploiting an opponent's weakness rather than engaging fairly on the merits.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is used and understood in both varieties, but its origins and highest frequency are in American sports journalism.
Connotations
Identical core connotation of unfairness and cowardice in both varieties.
Frequency
More common in AmE due to its roots in American football and boxing commentary, but well-established and used in BrE.
Grammar
How to Use “cheap shot” in a Sentence
[Verb] a cheap shot at [Person/Target][Det] (was) a cheap shotVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cheap shot” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The pundit was accused of cheap-shotting the minister over her personal life.
American English
- The columnist is known for cheap-shotting local politicians in his articles.
adjective
British English
- It was a cheap-shot remark designed to provoke rather than argue.
American English
- The ad campaign was full of cheap-shot tactics.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in negotiations or corporate disputes: 'Calling his competitor's financial troubles a marketing strategy was a cheap shot.'
Academic
Rare in formal writing; used in debates about academic integrity or peer reviews: 'The reviewer's personal critique of the author's institution was seen as a cheap shot.'
Everyday
Common in arguments, sports discussions, and political/social commentary among friends and colleagues.
Technical
Not applicable in technical domains; remains a social/ethical judgement term.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cheap shot”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cheap shot”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cheap shot”
- Using it to mean simply 'a bad shot' or 'an ineffective attempt'. It must carry the connotation of *unfairness*, not just poor quality.
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'He cheap-shotted me') is informal and less standard than the noun form.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, absolutely. While it originated in sports, it is now very commonly used in politics, journalism, business, and everyday arguments to describe any unfair personal attack or low tactic.
It is most commonly written as two separate words: 'cheap shot'. The hyphenated form 'cheap-shot' is used when it functions as a modifier before a noun (e.g., a cheap-shot artist).
Strong criticism targets the substance of an idea or action. A 'cheap shot' avoids the substance and targets a personal vulnerability, irrelevance, or uses underhanded means, violating norms of fair debate.
Yes, among friends or in a light-hearted context it can be used in a toned-down way (e.g., 'Hey, mentioning my cooking disaster was a cheap shot!'), but it still carries the core meaning of a playful 'unfair' jab.
An unfair, unethical, or unsportsmanlike attack that takes advantage of someone's vulnerability.
Cheap shot is usually informal in register.
Cheap shot: in British English it is pronounced /ˌtʃiːp ˈʃɒt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌtʃiːp ˈʃɑːt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “hit below the belt (closely related)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a boxer who is **CHEAP** and doesn't want to pay for proper training, so he waits for his opponent to be looking the other way and takes a sneaky **SHOT**. That's a CHEAP SHOT – an unfair, low-effort attack.
Conceptual Metaphor
ARGUMENT/CRITICISM IS BOXING. A 'cheap shot' maps the concept of an illegal, unsportsmanlike punch in boxing onto verbal or tactical attacks in other domains.
Practice
Quiz
Which scenario BEST illustrates a 'cheap shot'?