shoot through: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1 - Low frequency, informal/idiomatic.Informal, chiefly Australian and New Zealand English; casual conversation.
Quick answer
What does “shoot through” mean?
To leave suddenly or hastily, often implying a desire to avoid something or someone.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To leave suddenly or hastily, often implying a desire to avoid something or someone.
To depart quickly, typically without notice or formalities; to escape a situation. In technical use, to penetrate completely through a material.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The idiomatic meaning 'to leave hastily' is strongly associated with Australian/NZ English. In UK English, it's understood but considered informal and somewhat rare. In US English, this idiomatic meaning is virtually unknown; the literal meaning (e.g., 'The bullet shot through the door') is standard.
Connotations
In Aus/NZ: often connotes escaping boredom, work, or an unpleasant situation. In UK: informal, possibly slightly dated. In US: no idiomatic connotation.
Frequency
Very frequent in Aus/NZ informal speech. Low frequency in UK. Zero frequency for this idiom in US; high frequency for the literal phrase.
Grammar
How to Use “shoot through” in a Sentence
[Subject] + shoot through + (PP: from/off/out of + [Place])Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “shoot through” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The meeting was so dull, I decided to shoot through after the first hour.
- He shot through without saying goodbye.
American English
- [Idiomatic usage not applicable] The armour-piercing round can shoot through three inches of steel.
adverb
British English
- [Not typically used as an adverb.]
American English
- [Not typically used as an adverb.]
adjective
British English
- [Not typically used as an adjective.]
American English
- [Not typically used as an adjective.]
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used in formal business contexts. In very casual settings, might be used humorously (e.g., 'I'm shooting through early today').
Academic
Not used in academic writing.
Everyday
Used in casual conversation, especially in Australia/NZ.
Technical
Used literally in physics, ballistics, or engineering (e.g., 'The laser shot through the sample').
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “shoot through”
- Using it in formal writing. Using it in American English expecting the idiomatic meaning to be understood. Using the wrong particle (e.g., 'shoot off' means something different).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is strongly informal and colloquial.
Only in its literal sense (e.g., 'The arrow shot through the target'). The idiomatic meaning 'to leave' will likely not be understood.
'Shoot through' is more neutral and often implies a quick, discreet, or timely departure, not necessarily due to fear. 'Run away' implies fleeing from danger or responsibility.
No, it usually means to leave a specific place or situation. It doesn't inherently imply a permanent departure (e.g., 'I'll shoot through at 5 PM' means leaving work for the day).
To leave suddenly or hastily, often implying a desire to avoid something or someone.
Shoot through: in British English it is pronounced /ˈʃuːt θruː/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈʃuːt θruː/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Shoot through like a Bondi tram (Aus, dated).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a person 'shooting' out of a door as if fired from a gun, to get 'through' the exit quickly.
Conceptual Metaphor
LEAVING IS A RAPID PROJECTILE MOTION.
Practice
Quiz
In which variety of English is 'shoot through' a common idiom for 'leave quickly'?