| 释义 |
▪ I. foot-shooting, n. colloq.
Brit. |ˈfʊtˌʃuːtɪŋ|, U.S. |ˈfʊtˌʃudɪŋ|
[‹ foot n. + shooting n., after to shoot oneself in the foot at shoot v. Additions Compare slightly earlier foot-shooting adj.]
The action of inadvertently making one's own situation worse, or of making an (embarrassing) error of judgement; an instance of this. Cf. to shoot oneself in the foot at shoot v. Additions
1986Financial Times 15 May 30/3 Nevertheless yesterday's 16p rise to 218p, on the back of an optimistic statement, does not dismiss a rather poor case of foot-shooting. 1990N.Y. Woman Apr. 54/1 One political cartoon portrayed..Molly Yard in classic foot-shooting position: out on a limb, furiously sawing away at the part of the branch between her and the tree trunk. 1996Independent 9 May ii. 5/3 He himself..had once confidently discussed Haydn's imaginative scoring for an instrument that (it turned out) was only invented years after the composer's death; but he added a dozen other amusing examples of critical foot-shootings. 2002Topeka (Kansas) Capital-Jrnl. (Nexis) 26 Oct. All that foot-shooting is what makes the Wildcats' final drive against Texas seem inexplicable.
▪ II. foot-shooting, a. colloq.
Brit. |ˈfʊtˌʃuːtɪŋ|, U.S. |ˈfʊtˌʃudɪŋ|
[‹ foot n. + shooting adj., after to shoot oneself in the foot at shoot v. Additions]
Of an action or decision: that worsens one's own situation; (of a person) having a tendency to cause oneself difficulty or embarrassment inadvertently. Cf. to shoot oneself in the foot at shoot v. Additions
1984Guardian 1 Nov. 4/2 The sacking..is the latest in a series of foot-shooting exercises which have characterised the increasingly curious behaviour of the NCB chairman. 1995Sydney Morning Herald 5 June 5/2 When the ABC, in one of its classic foot-shooting decisions, axed Towards 2000, Travers, with the other presenters.., renamed the show Beyond 2000, sold the concept to the Seven Network and went on to make their fortunes. 2002Ottawa Citizen (Nexis) 11 Dec. a17 The all-star cast of foot-shooting Liberals. |