shoot down
C1Informal (in argumentative sense), Formal (in military sense)
Definition
Meaning
To cause an aircraft, missile, or person in flight to fall to the ground by hitting them with a weapon, such as a gun or missile.
To forcefully reject, dismiss, or disprove an idea, proposal, or argument; to kill or wound someone by shooting.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Literal sense: military/aviation context. Figurative sense: often used in discussions, debates, and negotiations to describe the decisive rejection of a suggestion.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. The term originates in military contexts common to both varieties.
Connotations
Both share connotations of decisive, often hostile, action. The figurative use is equally common in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American English media due to greater prevalence of military-themed discourse.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] shoots down [Direct Object][Subject] shoots [Direct Object] downVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “shoot down in flames”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
The board shot down the merger proposal immediately.
Academic
Her thesis was shot down during the peer-review process.
Everyday
I suggested a beach holiday, but the kids shot it down; they want mountains.
Technical
The new missile system can shoot down targets at an altitude of 50,000 feet.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The RAF pilot managed to shoot down the reconnaissance drone.
- He tried to suggest a different route, but the navigator shot him down immediately.
American English
- Anti-aircraft guns shot down the enemy fighter over the desert.
- My boss shot my proposal down in front of the whole team.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The army can shoot down planes.
- My parents shot down my idea for a party.
- The defence system is designed to shoot down incoming ballistic missiles.
- Every time I make a suggestion in the meeting, my colleague shoots it down.
- Historians have largely shot down the myth of a single inventor for the device.
- The committee chairperson has the power to summarily shoot down any motion deemed out of order.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a game where you 'shoot' a paper airplane 'down' before it can land on your desk. It's stopped decisively.
Conceptual Metaphor
IDEAS ARE AIRCRAFT / A successful idea takes flight; shooting it down prevents it from reaching its destination.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'сбить с толку' (to confuse). It does not mean 'to interrupt' as in 'перебить'.
- The separable verb aspect ('shoot an idea down') must be respected in translation.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: They shoot down him. Correct: They shot him down.
- Incorrect: She shoot downed the plan. Correct: She shot the plan down.
Practice
Quiz
In a business context, 'to shoot down a proposal' most closely means:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While the literal meaning refers to physical objects (aircraft, missiles), it is very commonly used figuratively to mean rejecting ideas, proposals, or arguments.
Yes. In informal conversation, it frequently describes the act of quickly and decisively dismissing someone's suggestion or hope, e.g., 'He shot down my holiday idea.'
Yes. It is a phrasal verb where the particle can be separated from the verb by a noun object. You can say 'shoot down the idea' or 'shoot the idea down'. With a pronoun, you must separate it: 'shoot it down'.
'Shoot down' implies a more forceful, immediate, and sometimes public or humiliating rejection. 'Reject' is more neutral and general.