slap shot: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Technical (Sports); Casual in hockey contexts.
Quick answer
What does “slap shot” mean?
A very hard and fast shot in ice hockey, performed by winding the stick back and swinging it forcefully at the puck, which often leaves the ice.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A very hard and fast shot in ice hockey, performed by winding the stick back and swinging it forcefully at the puck, which often leaves the ice.
May be used metaphorically in business or sports to describe a powerful, swift, and direct action or attack.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is identical in form but far more frequent in North American English due to ice hockey's prominence. In the UK, it may be less familiar to the general public.
Connotations
Connotes power, speed, and a classic hockey play. No significant difference in connotation between regions.
Frequency
Very high frequency in North American sports media; low frequency in general UK discourse unless discussing ice hockey.
Grammar
How to Use “slap shot” in a Sentence
to take a slap shotto fire/launch a slap shotto score with a slap shota slap shot from [location]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “slap shot” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He decided to slap-shot the puck into the top corner.
- She slap-shotted it past the goalie.
American English
- He wound up and slap-shot the puck from the blue line.
- She slap-shotted it through traffic for a goal.
adverb
British English
- He scored slap-shot style.
- (Usage as adverb is extremely rare and non-standard)
American English
- He sent the puck slap-shot style into the net.
- (Usage as adverb is extremely rare and non-standard)
adjective
British English
- His slap-shot technique needs work.
- It was a perfect slap-shot goal.
American English
- He's known for his slap-shot power.
- They practiced slap-shot accuracy drills.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Metaphorically: 'The marketing team's new campaign was a real slap shot, grabbing immediate market attention.'
Academic
Rare; would only appear in sports science or sociology of sport papers analysing hockey techniques.
Everyday
'He practices his slap shot for hours at the rink.'
Technical
In hockey coaching: 'The key to an effective slap shot is weight transfer and following through.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “slap shot”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “slap shot”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “slap shot”
- Misspelling as one word: 'slapshot' (common but informal).
- Using it for any hard shot in sports (it's specific to hockey).
- Pronouncing 'slap' and 'shot' as separate, equally stressed words instead of the compound stress pattern /ˈslæp ˌʃɒt/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A slap shot involves a full wind-up where the stick is raised high before striking the puck, prioritising power. A wrist shot is a quicker, more accurate shot generated by a flicking motion of the wrists with minimal wind-up.
Yes, in hockey contexts, it is commonly used as a phrasal verb (to slap-shot), especially in North American sports commentary (e.g., 'He slap-shotted it home').
While 'slapshot' is very common, especially informally and in historical brand names (e.g., the film 'Slap Shot'), the standard dictionary spelling is the two-word compound 'slap shot'.
Its primary meaning is technical to ice hockey. It can be used metaphorically in other contexts (e.g., business, other sports) to describe a powerful, direct action, but this is a figurative extension of the core hockey term.
A very hard and fast shot in ice hockey, performed by winding the stick back and swinging it forcefully at the puck, which often leaves the ice.
Slap shot is usually technical (sports); casual in hockey contexts. in register.
Slap shot: in British English it is pronounced /ˈslæp ˌʃɒt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈslæp ˌʃɑːt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “He brought out the big guns with a slap shot.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine the sound of a SLAP as the stick hits the ice just before the puck, and the SHOT rockets toward the net.
Conceptual Metaphor
A POWERFUL ACTION IS A HOCKEY SLAP SHOT (e.g., a forceful business move).
Practice
Quiz
In which sport is a 'slap shot' a key technical term?