shooting brake: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal/Technical (Automotive)
Quick answer
What does “shooting brake” mean?
A car body style, typically a high-end estate/wagon, characterised by a coupe-like front and a long, practical rear cargo area with a tailgate.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A car body style, typically a high-end estate/wagon, characterised by a coupe-like front and a long, practical rear cargo area with a tailgate.
Historically, a horse-drawn vehicle used to carry shooting parties and their equipment. In modern automotive use, it denotes a luxury or sporty estate car, often based on a coupe or saloon platform, emphasising style as much as utility.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term 'shooting brake' is understood but rare in general American English, where 'station wagon' or 'estate' would be more common for the body style. The historical horse-drawn meaning is largely unknown in the US. The modern luxury usage is primarily a British/European marketing term.
Connotations
In the UK/EU, it connotes a stylish, high-performance, and expensive estate car. In the US, it is an obscure, somewhat archaic-sounding British term for a wagon.
Frequency
Very low frequency in general American English. Low-to-medium frequency in UK automotive journalism and among car enthusiasts.
Grammar
How to Use “shooting brake” in a Sentence
[determiner] + shooting brake[brand/model] + shooting brake[adjective] + shooting brakeVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “shooting brake” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The shooting-brake concept was well received at the motor show.
- It has a classic shooting-brake silhouette.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in automotive industry press releases and marketing for luxury/sports brands.
Academic
Used in historical texts about transport or automotive design history.
Everyday
Rare in everyday conversation; used primarily by car enthusiasts.
Technical
Standard term in automotive design and journalism for a specific body style.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “shooting brake”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “shooting brake”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “shooting brake”
- Pronouncing 'brake' as 'break'. Confusing it with a pickup truck or SUV. Using it as a general term for any estate car.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While both have a rear hatch, a shooting brake is typically longer, based on a saloon or coupe, and prioritises luxury and style over the compact utility of a standard hatchback.
The term 'brake' historically referred to a horse-drawn carriage used for breaking in (training) horses, and later for a wagon used by shooting parties. The automotive term borrows from this latter use.
Generally, no. A shooting brake is defined by its car-like, low-slung stance and estate/wagon proportions. SUVs are taller and have different design origins, though the term is sometimes loosely (and incorrectly) used in marketing.
Not under that name. The body style itself (luxury/long-roof wagon) has a niche following, but Americans would almost always use 'station wagon' or 'estate' to describe it.
A car body style, typically a high-end estate/wagon, characterised by a coupe-like front and a long, practical rear cargo area with a tailgate.
Shooting brake is usually formal/technical (automotive) in register.
Shooting brake: in British English it is pronounced /ˈʃuːtɪŋ breɪk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈʃuːt̬ɪŋ breɪk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A shooting brake for the school run.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'brake' as an old wagon for a shooting party, which evolved into a 'brake' (car) for carrying shooting/hunting gear. The 'shooting' part hints at its sporting, aristocratic origins.
Conceptual Metaphor
UTILITY IS ELEGANTLY DISGUISED. The vehicle metaphorically 'dresses up' practical cargo space in the stylish clothing of a performance coupe.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'shooting brake' most commonly used today?