wing shot
C1Formal, Technical, Sporting
Definition
Meaning
A shot fired at a bird or other game in flight, especially one that is flying to the side; the skill of making such shots.
In sports (e.g., basketball, hockey, soccer), a shot taken from a position near the side of the playing area, often by a player positioned on the wing.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The primary sense is from hunting/shooting sports; the sports sense is a metaphorical extension. The compound is typically a noun phrase, though it can function attributively (e.g., 'wing-shot specialist').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More common in American English in the sporting context (e.g., basketball). In British English, the primary association is with game shooting.
Connotations
In both varieties, the hunting sense connotes precision and skill. In the US, the sports sense is neutral-technical.
Frequency
Low frequency overall, but higher in contexts discussing hunting, shooting sports, or specific team sports.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
make/take a wing shotknown for his wing shota wing shot from distanceVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Dead eye on the wing shot (idiomatic for extreme accuracy).”
Usage
Context Usage
Academic
Rare; might appear in historical/sociological studies of hunting or sports science.
Everyday
Used by enthusiasts of hunting or specific sports (basketball, hockey).
Technical
Common in manuals for game shooting and in sports coaching/commentary.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- He is a wing-shot champion.
- She demonstrated wing-shot accuracy.
American English
- He's a wing-shot specialist.
- It was a wing-shot competition.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The hunter is good at wing shots.
- He took a wing shot but missed the goal.
- Her ability to make difficult wing shots won the game.
- The course taught safe practices for taking a wing shot at game birds.
- The commentator praised the player's consistent wing shot from an acute angle.
- His reputation as a marksman was built on his uncanny skill with the crossing wing shot.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a bird's WING and the SHOT that hits it while flying.
Conceptual Metaphor
PRECISION IS A TARGETED STRIKE (from a specific zone).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque "крыло-выстрел". For hunting, use "выстрел влёт" or "по летящей дичи". For sports, "бросок/удар с фланга".
Common Mistakes
- Using 'wingshot' as one word (should be two words or hyphenated as adjective). Confusing with 'snapshot'.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'wing shot' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is typically written as two words. It may be hyphenated when used as a compound modifier (e.g., wing-shot technique).
Yes, informally it can refer to a person skilled at making such shots (e.g., 'He's a great wing shot').
A 'wing shot' specifies the location (the side/wing), while a 'long shot' specifies distance. A wing shot can also be a long shot.
It is possible but less common than in basketball or hockey. 'Cross' or 'shot from the flank' are more typical football terms.