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squirt gun: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

A2
UK/ˈskwɜːt ɡʌn/US/ˈskwɝːt ɡʌn/

Informal, mainly North American

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Quick answer

What does “squirt gun” mean?

A handheld toy gun that shoots a stream of water.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

A handheld toy gun that shoots a stream of water.

A device used to project a jet of liquid, often for cleaning, gardening, or as a toy.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

In British English, 'water pistol' is the standard term. 'Squirt gun' is primarily American and Canadian usage.

Connotations

'Squirt gun' sounds casual and childlike in American English. In British English, it can sound like an Americanism.

Frequency

Very high frequency in AmE for the toy. Very low frequency in BrE, where 'water pistol' is dominant.

Grammar

How to Use “squirt gun” in a Sentence

VERB + squirt gun: have, get, buy, use, fill, point, fire, squirt with

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
fill a squirt gunsqueeze the trigger of a squirt gunplastic squirt gunsuper soaker squirt gun
medium
armed with a squirt gunsquirt gun fightaim a squirt gun
weak
broke my squirt guncheap squirt gunsummer squirt gun

Examples

Examples of “squirt gun” in a Sentence

noun

British English

  • The children were playing with water pistels in the garden.
  • He bought a new water pistol from the toy shop.

American English

  • The kids are having a squirt gun fight in the backyard.
  • I need to fill up my squirt gun before the water battle.

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Rare. Possibly in toy manufacturing or retail.

Academic

Extremely rare.

Everyday

Common in family and recreational contexts, especially in summer.

Technical

Not used.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “squirt gun”

Strong

water pistol (BrE)water gun (AmE)

Weak

water shooterwater squirter

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “squirt gun”

toy gun (that doesn't shoot liquid)

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “squirt gun”

  • Using 'squirt gun' in formal writing. Using 'squirt gun' in British English contexts where 'water pistol' is expected.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

It is primarily American English. British English uses 'water pistol'.

Yes, rarely. It can informally describe a device for squirting cleaning fluid or garden chemicals, but 'spray gun' or 'applicator' is more common for non-toy uses.

'Super Soaker' is a very popular and powerful brand of squirt gun (water gun).

Yes, 'water gun' is a common synonym in American English and is understood globally.

A handheld toy gun that shoots a stream of water.

Squirt gun is usually informal, mainly north american in register.

Squirt gun: in British English it is pronounced /ˈskwɜːt ɡʌn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈskwɝːt ɡʌn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think: SQUIRRel with a water gun. A squirrel might use a SQUIRT gun.

Conceptual Metaphor

PLAY IS WAR (e.g., 'water fight', 'armed with squirt guns').

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
On a hot day, the children ran around the yard, laughing and shooting each other with their .
Multiple Choice

Which term is most commonly used in British English for a toy that shoots water?

squirt gun: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples | Lingvocore