peashooter: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Informal, Colloquial
Quick answer
What does “peashooter” mean?
A simple toy consisting of a tube through which dried peas or other small objects are blown.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A simple toy consisting of a tube through which dried peas or other small objects are blown.
Any small-caliber, ineffective firearm or cannon; something considered weak, insignificant, or ineffectual.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The core meaning is identical. The metaphorical use ('ineffective weapon/person') is understood in both varieties, though its frequency in specific contexts may vary.
Connotations
In both varieties, 'peashooter' connotes childishness, harmlessness, and lack of power or threat.
Frequency
More common in AmE, particularly in the metaphorical sense related to weaponry. In BrE, it is understood but may be less frequently used.
Grammar
How to Use “peashooter” in a Sentence
[to be/look like] nothing but a ~a ~ [compared to/against something]armed with a ~Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “peashooter” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- He had a peashooter mentality when facing the crisis.
American English
- They were up against peashooter opposition in the first round.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used metaphorically to describe a company's weak competitive position or an ineffective strategy. ('Their new marketing campaign is a peashooter against the rival's media blitz.')
Academic
Rare. Might appear in historical texts describing early firearms or in cultural studies of toys.
Everyday
Almost exclusively used in the context of children's toys or as a dismissive metaphor for something weak.
Technical
Not used in technical registers.
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “peashooter”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “peashooter”
- Misspelling as 'peashoter' or 'pea shooter' (hyphenated form is also accepted).
- Using it to describe a real, functional small firearm without intended irony.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is most commonly written as one word ('peashooter'), though the hyphenated form ('pea-shooter') is also acceptable.
Only metaphorically or derogatorily, to emphasize that a real gun is considered very small, weak, or insignificant.
It is a compound noun formed from 'pea' and 'shooter', dating from the mid-19th century, originating from the simple children's toy.
Yes, it's a common idiom, particularly in American English, meaning to be woefully underprepared or underequipped for a serious challenge.
A simple toy consisting of a tube through which dried peas or other small objects are blown.
Peashooter is usually informal, colloquial in register.
Peashooter: in British English it is pronounced ˈpiːˌʃuːtə, and in American English it is pronounced ˈpiˌʃuːʩɚ. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “armed with a peashooter”
- “bring a peashooter to a gunfight”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
PEA + SHOOTER. Think of a tube that SHOOTS dried PEAs.
Conceptual Metaphor
INADEQUATE WEAPON IS A TOY.
Practice
Quiz
In a business context, if someone says 'our new product is a peashooter compared to theirs', what do they mean?