clay pigeon: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Specialised, Figurative
Quick answer
What does “clay pigeon” mean?
A disc-shaped target made of hardened clay, hurled into the air for shooting practice in the sport of trapshooting or skeet.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A disc-shaped target made of hardened clay, hurled into the air for shooting practice in the sport of trapshooting or skeet.
A person or thing that is easily targeted, attacked, or criticized; a figurative scapegoat or sitting duck.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in primary meaning. The sport itself ('clay pigeon shooting') is slightly more common in the UK. The spelling 'pigeon' is universal (not the variant 'pidgeen').
Connotations
In UK contexts, the concrete meaning is strongly associated with rural sports and country pursuits. In US contexts, it is also linked to shooting ranges and marksmanship training.
Frequency
The term is low-frequency in both varieties. The figurative use is more likely to be encountered in political or business journalism than in everyday conversation.
Grammar
How to Use “clay pigeon” in a Sentence
[Subject] shot/broke/smashed [Object: clay pigeon].[Subject] felt like a clay pigeon.[Subject] was used as a clay pigeon by [Agent].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “clay pigeon” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- They spent the afternoon clay-pigeon shooting.
- He was clay-pigeoned by the press.
American English
- We're going to clay pigeon shoot this afternoon.
- The proposal was clay-pigeoned in the committee.
adjective
British English
- He's a clay-pigeon shooter of some renown.
- It was a classic clay-pigeon situation.
American English
- She enjoys clay-pigeon shooting competitions.
- They set up a clay-pigeon trap scenario for the new CEO.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
The new manager was set up as a clay pigeon to take the blame for the failed merger.
Academic
The study's methodology was treated as a clay pigeon by reviewers, who ignored its substantive findings.
Everyday
We're going clay pigeon shooting this weekend. It's quite fun.
Technical
The spring-loaded arm of the trap launches the clay pigeon at a predetermined angle and velocity.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “clay pigeon”
- Confusing 'clay pigeon' with a real bird. Incorrect: 'I saw a clay pigeon on the roof.' Correct: 'I shot a clay pigeon at the range.'
- Using 'clay pigeon' to mean any target. It is specific to the sport (and its figurative extension).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is not a bird. It is a disc-shaped target made from a pitch-and-limestone mixture or other brittle materials, designed to shatter when hit.
Yes, it commonly is. It describes a person or thing that is easily or unfairly targeted for attack, blame, or criticism.
The 'trap' is the machine that launches the clay pigeon. The 'clay pigeon' is the target itself. The sport can be called 'trap shooting' or 'clay pigeon shooting'.
The sport evolved from live-pigeon shooting competitions in the 18th and 19th centuries. When artificial targets were introduced, they kept the name 'pigeon' for tradition, specifying the material ('clay') to distinguish them.
A disc-shaped target made of hardened clay, hurled into the air for shooting practice in the sport of trapshooting or skeet.
Clay pigeon is usually specialised, figurative in register.
Clay pigeon: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkleɪ ˈpɪdʒ.ɪn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkleɪ ˈpɪdʒ.ən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “like shooting clay pigeons (very easy)”
- “be a clay pigeon for someone (be set up for criticism/attack)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a pigeon made of CLAY (brittle, fragile). It's not a real bird, just a fake target meant to be SHOT and BROKEN. This captures both its physical form and its purpose as an easy target.
Conceptual Metaphor
A PERSON/ENTITY IS A TARGET (The abstract idea of being targeted is understood via the physical act of shooting at a clay disc).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary, concrete meaning of 'clay pigeon'?