shot
C1Broad: from technical/medical to informal/idiomatic.
Definition
Meaning
The act or instance of firing a projectile from a weapon, or a single attempt at scoring in a game.
In photography, a single photograph; in film, a continuous sequence; in medicine, an injection; in informal contexts, an attempt or opportunity; in beverages, a small serving of alcohol.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Highly polysemous word. The context is critical for disambiguation between violent, sporting, photographic, medical, and social drinking meanings.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minor. 'Shot' as a small alcoholic drink is slightly more informal/common in US usage. Sporting usage (e.g., 'good shot') is identical.
Connotations
In UK, 'have a shot' can more readily imply an attempt. In US, it more strongly conjures the drinking meaning in casual contexts.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both dialects due to core meanings.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
fire/take a shot (at)give someone a shot (of)have a shot (at)get a shot (of/in the arm)be shot (with/by)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a shot in the dark”
- “call the shots”
- “shot across the bows”
- “like a shot”
- “parting shot”
- “big shot”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
"We need to take a shot at entering the Asian market." (Meaning: attempt)
Academic
"The electron microscope shot revealed the virus structure." (Meaning: photograph/image)
Everyday
"I'll have a shot of espresso." / "Great shot!" (to a footballer)
Technical
"Administer the tetanus shot intramuscularly."
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- The hunter heard a single shot in the distance.
- That's a brilliant shot of the London skyline.
- The goalie saved a powerful shot from Kane.
- I need to get a flu shot before winter.
- Fancy a shot of whisky in your coffee?
American English
- The officer fired a warning shot into the air.
- She posted a great shot of the Grand Canyon on Instagram.
- Curry made an incredible three-point shot.
- The nurse gave the toddler a shot in the arm.
- Let's do tequila shots to celebrate!
verb
British English
- He accidentally shot the ball through his neighbour's window.
- The film was shot entirely on location in Scotland.
American English
- The director shot the final scene at dawn.
- She shot me a look that said 'be quiet'.
adjective
British English
- The silks were shot through with golden thread.
- After the marathon, his legs felt completely shot.
American English
- The car's tires were shot and needed replacing.
- He was too shot to continue the hike.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He took a photo. It was a good shot.
- The football player took a shot at the goal.
- The doctor gave me a shot.
- Give it a shot! You might be good at it.
- I'd like a shot of vodka, please.
- She fired a shot into the air to scare the animals away.
- His comment was a cheap shot, below the belt.
- It's a long shot, but we might still win the contract.
- The documentary was shot over a period of three years.
- The CEO's resignation was the opening shot in a major corporate shake-up.
- The fabric was a beautiful shot silk, changing colour in the light.
- He's completely shot his credibility with that irresponsible statement.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a camera going 'shot' (click) and a gun going 'shot' (bang) – both capture a moment or release a projectile in a single, brief action.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A GAME / A BATTLE ('take your best shot', 'a shot at glory', 'call the shots').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating 'shot' (drink) as 'выстрел'. Use 'шот' or 'рюмка'.
- Avoid using 'shot' (photo/film) for a painted portrait ('портрет').
- 'I'm shot' (exhausted) is not violent; it's metaphorical.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'shoot' as a noun ('I took a shoot') instead of 'shot'.
- Confusing 'shot' (past tense of shoot) with the noun form in phrases like 'He was shot' (verb) vs. 'He took a shot' (noun).
Practice
Quiz
In the context of film production, 'shot' refers to:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While one core meaning involves projectiles, 'shot' is widely used in sports, photography, medicine, and informal speech ('give it a shot') without violent connotations.
'A shot' is a noun meaning a single instance (of firing, photographing, trying). 'A shoot' is a noun for an organised event of filming or photography, or a new plant growth. 'Shoot' is also the base form of the verb.
Yes, informally it means exhausted or worn out ('I'm shot'). It also describes fabrics interwoven with different colours ('shot silk').
It's an idiom meaning to be the person who makes the important decisions and is in control of a situation.
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