sitting target: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal to neutral, used in journalism, political commentary, sports analysis, and business contexts.
Quick answer
What does “sitting target” mean?
A person, object, or position that is stationary and therefore easy to attack, criticize, or take advantage of.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person, object, or position that is stationary and therefore easy to attack, criticize, or take advantage of.
A person, organization, or entity in a vulnerable position, lacking the mobility or defenses to avoid criticism, attack, or exploitation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Slightly more common in British English, but widely used and understood in American English.
Connotations
Identical in both varieties.
Frequency
Common in UK media and political discourse. Used in US contexts, but alternatives like 'sitting duck' or 'easy target' are equally or more frequent.
Grammar
How to Use “sitting target” in a Sentence
[Subject] is/becomes a sitting target for [criticism/attack].[Action/Inaction] left [someone] a sitting target.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sitting target” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The Prime Minister's indecision has made him a sitting target for the opposition.
- Out in the open, the goalkeeper was a complete sitting target for long-range shots.
American English
- The company's outdated policies made it a sitting target for lawsuits.
- Staying in one defensive position too long turned the unit into a sitting target.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
"With their outdated technology, they're a sitting target for more agile competitors."
Academic
"The researcher's poorly defended thesis made her argument a sitting target for peer reviewers."
Everyday
"Parking your expensive bike outside is just making it a sitting target for thieves."
Technical
Not typical. Used in security/military analysis metaphorically: "A static server with no firewall is a sitting target for hackers."
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sitting target”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “sitting target”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sitting target”
- Using 'sitting' as a verb (e.g., 'The target is sitting' is incorrect for this idiom). Mistaking it for a literal description of a person who is seated.
- Using 'setting target' (a completely different phrase about goals).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, they are near-identical synonyms in metaphorical use. 'Sitting duck' might have a slightly more informal feel.
Yes, commonly. E.g., 'His theory was a sitting target for criticism due to its lack of evidence.'
The combination of being stationary ('sitting') and being an object of attack ('target'). Motion implies the ability to evade; lack of motion implies vulnerability.
It can be critical or descriptive, implying they are vulnerable due to their own actions/inaction. It's not inherently offensive but is negatively evaluative.
A person, object, or position that is stationary and therefore easy to attack, criticize, or take advantage of.
Sitting target is usually informal to neutral, used in journalism, political commentary, sports analysis, and business contexts. in register.
Sitting target: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsɪtɪŋ ˈtɑːɡɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsɪt̬ɪŋ ˈtɑːrɡɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Like shooting fish in a barrel (similar concept of easy vulnerability)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a duck (sitting duck) painted like a bullseye target. It's not flying away; it's just SITTING there as a TARGET.
Conceptual Metaphor
VULNERABILITY IS LACK OF MOTION / CRITICISM IS AN ATTACK.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following best describes a 'sitting target'?