rim shot: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Colloquial (when used metaphorically); Technical (in music).
Quick answer
What does “rim shot” mean?
A percussive sound made by simultaneously striking the head and rim of a drum, or a drum hit used for comic punctuation.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A percussive sound made by simultaneously striking the head and rim of a drum, or a drum hit used for comic punctuation.
A technique in comedy or music where a short, sharp sound punctuates or emphasizes a joke or statement, often signifying a humorous or mock-serious conclusion.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical, though American English slightly more frequently employs the metaphorical sense in popular media (e.g., sitcoms, comedy).
Connotations
Humour, punchline, irony, slapstick comedy.
Frequency
Low frequency in both, but higher in American comedic contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “rim shot” in a Sentence
VERB + rim shot (e.g., play, cue, deliver, follow with)rim shot + VERB (e.g., punctuated, followed, signalled)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “rim shot” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The drummer will rim-shot on the final beat.
American English
- He rim-shot the snare to punctuate the gag.
adverb
British English
- The line was delivered rim-shot style.
adjective
British English
- The comedian's rim-shot moment fell flat.
American English
- It was a classic rim-shot joke.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in extremely informal, jocular presentations.
Academic
Used only in studies of music, percussion, or comedy theory.
Everyday
Used metaphorically to comment on a joke or ironic statement.
Technical
Refers specifically to the drumming technique.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “rim shot”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “rim shot”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “rim shot”
- Using 'rim shot' to refer to any drum sound (it's specific).
- Spelling as 'rimshot' (though common, the spaced form is standard in dictionaries).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Standard dictionaries list it as two words ('rim shot'), though the closed form 'rimshot' is common in informal writing.
Yes, in musical contexts (e.g., 'He rim-shot the snare').
'Ba-dum-tss' is the onomatopoeic representation of the sound following a joke, often synonymous with the *effect* of a rim shot. The rim shot is the specific technique that produces part of that sound.
No, but its overuse can be considered clichéd or corny humour.
A percussive sound made by simultaneously striking the head and rim of a drum, or a drum hit used for comic punctuation.
Rim shot is usually colloquial (when used metaphorically); technical (in music). in register.
Rim shot: in British English it is pronounced /ˈrɪm ʃɒt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈrɪm ʃɑːt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Cue the rim shot.”
- “Ba-dum-tss!”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine the RIM of a drum getting a SHOT of sound.
Conceptual Metaphor
HUMOUR IS A PERCUSSIVE SOUND.
Practice
Quiz
In a non-musical context, 'rim shot' is most closely associated with: