potshot

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pot·shot

also pot shot (pŏt′shŏt′)

1. A random or easy shot.

2. A criticism made without careful thought and aimed at a handy target for attack: reporters taking potshots at the mayor.

[So called because such a shot is fired by a hunter whose main purpose is to get food for the pot.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

pot•shot

(ˈpɒtˌʃɒt)

n.

1. a shot fired at game merely for food, with little regard to skill or the rules of sport.

2. a shot at an animal or person within easy range, as from ambush.

3. a casual or aimless shot.

4. a random or incidental criticism.

[1855–60]

potshot

- Comes from shooting an animal purely for food (pot), rather than for simple conquest.

See also related terms for shooting.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Switch to new thesaurus

Noun	1.	potshot - a shot taken at an easy or casual target (as by a pothunter) shooting, shot - the act of firing a projectile; "his shooting was slow but accurate"
	2.	potshot - criticism aimed at an easy target and made without careful consideration; "reporters took potshots at the mayor" criticism, unfavorable judgment - disapproval expressed by pointing out faults or shortcomings; "the senator received severe criticism from his opponent"

Translations

räiskäisyräiskintä

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References in periodicals archive ?

Summary: Tohana (Haryana) [India], Sept 5 (ANI): Haryana BJP chief Subhash Barala on Thursday took potshots at Congress over the appointment of Bhupinder Singh Hooda as chairman of party's state election management committee saying he had been given the role "under compulsion".

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The statement has drawn immense ire from the NPRD which said that instead of replying to a question raised by a student, Modi made fun of dyslexia to take potshots at his political rivals.

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The world No.82 from Gateshead stunned O'Sullivan - who has taken potshots at some of the game's lesser lights - with a 4-1 win to reach the last 16 at the Northern Ireland Open.

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Pinning his hopes on the youth, Rudy claimed, "The surge in Bihar's youth has crossed the caste barriers, and is a sign of their aspirations and desires for change and dignity."Taking potshots at both Lalu and Nitish, the BJP minister, who is seen close to top Central leadership, rejected the ' castebased' rhetoric of RJD supremo as ' outdated'.

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The two men, who both take part in regular phone-in shows on LBC 97.3 have repeatedly taken potshots at one another in the past, with Mr Clegg branding the mayor a "slacker" for only hosting a monthly call-in on the station while Mr Johnson claimed the DPM was an "idle bum".

Boris and 'poor old Cleggers' continue to trade jibes

A police spokesman said: "Singing and taking random potshots don't go too well with poaching." In it for long hol A workaholic boss in Croatia could be in the Guinness Book of Records after never taking a holiday or a day off sick in 50 years.

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Hence--weep weep, sob sob, honk honk!--CALLOW LOW-CAL, HOT POTS POTSHOT, and HOT SPOTS POTSHOTS are denied entry.

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However, considering the first series of this TV quiz was, by his own admission, a chance to take potshots at the week's TV, you can understand why the game show element wasn't the most important thing on his mind.

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You might recall that earlier this year Verizon sued Alltel in federal court regarding one of its My Circle marketing potshots.