shoot
verb /ʃuːt/
/ʃuːt/
Verb Forms
Idioms Phrasal Verbs| present simple I / you / we / they shoot | /ʃuːt/ /ʃuːt/ |
| he / she / it shoots | /ʃuːts/ /ʃuːts/ |
| past simple shot | /ʃɒt/ /ʃɑːt/ |
| past participle shot | /ʃɒt/ /ʃɑːt/ |
| -ing form shooting | /ˈʃuːtɪŋ/ /ˈʃuːtɪŋ/ |
- [intransitive, transitive] to fire a gun or other weapon; to fire something from a weapon
- Don't shoot—I surrender.
- The police rarely shoot to kill (= try to kill the people they shoot at).
- The soldiers were given orders to shoot on sight (= as soon as they saw somebody).
- shoot at somebody/something troops shooting at the enemy
- shoot something Have you ever shot a gun before?
- They shot the lock off (= removed it by shooting).
- shoot something at somebody/something She shot a bullet right at me but missed.
- shoot something from something He shot an arrow from his bow.
Homophones chute | shootchute shoot/ʃuːt//ʃuːt/- chute noun
- The laundry chute leads down to the washer-dryer area in the basement.
- shoot verb
- The recruits are learning to shoot at targets.
- shoot noun
- She posed for the cameras as though for a fashion shoot.
Collocations War and peaceWar and peaceStarting a war- declare/make/wage war (on somebody/something)
- go to war (against/with somebody)
- cause/spark/provoke/foment/quell unrest
- incite/lead/crush/suppress a revolt/rebellion
- launch/mount/carry out a surprise/terrorist attack
- prevent/halt/represent an escalation of the conflict
- be torn apart by/be on the brink of civil war
- enter/invade/occupy somebody’s territory
- lead/launch/resist/repel an invasion
- adopt/develop/implement/pursue a military strategy
- carry out/execute/perform military operations/manoeuvres
- send/deploy/station/pull back/withdraw troops
- go on/fly/carry out a reconnaissance/rescue mission
- train/equip/deploy army/military/combat units
- lead/launch/conduct a raid/a surprise attack/an (air/airborne/amphibious) assault (on somebody)
- employ/use guerrilla tactics
- conduct/wage biological/guerrilla warfare
- fight/crush/defeat the rebels/the insurgency
- suffer/inflict a crushing defeat
- achieve/win a decisive victory
- halt/stop the British/German/Russian advance
- order/force a retreat
- join/serve in the army/navy/air force
- be/go/remain/serve on active duty
- serve/complete/return from a tour of duty
- be sent to the front (line)
- attack/strike/engage/defeat/kill/destroy the enemy
- see/report/be engaged in heavy fighting
- call for/be met with armed resistance
- come under heavy/machine-gun/mortar fire
- fire a machine-gun/mortar shells/rockets (at somebody/something)
- shoot a rifle/a pistol/bullets/missiles
- launch/fire a cruise/ballistic/anti-tank missile
- use biological/chemical/nuclear weapons
- inflict/suffer/sustain heavy losses/casualties
- be hit/killed by enemy/friendly/artillery fire
- become/be held as a prisoner of war
- harm/kill/target/protect innocent/unarmed civilians
- cause/avoid/limit/minimize civilian casualties/collateral damage
- impose/enforce/lift a curfew
- engage in/be a victim of ethnic cleansing
- be sent to an internment/a concentration camp
- accept/house/resettle refugees fleeing from war
- fear/threaten military/violent reprisals
- commit/be accused of war crimes/crimes against humanity/genocide
- make/bring/win/achieve/maintain/promote peace
- call for/negotiate/broker/declare a ceasefire/a temporary truce
- sign a ceasefire agreement
- call for/bring/put an end to hostilities
- demand/negotiate/accept the surrender of somebody/something
- establish/send (in) a peacekeeping force
- negotiate/conclude/ratify/sign/accept/reject/break/violate a peace treaty
Extra ExamplesTopics War and conflictb1- I thought for a moment that he was going to shoot.
- She practised for days until she could shoot straight.
- If they shoot, we shoot back.
- The soldiers shot back at invading planes with rifles.
- The soldiers were shooting at a target.
- They began shooting at the enemy.
- Troops shot into the air to stop the rioting.
- a shoot-to-kill policy
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- accurately
- straight
- accidentally
- …
- want to
- threaten to
- be about to
- …
- at
- in
- into
- …
- shoot (somebody) on sight
- shoot somebody dead
- shoot to kill
- …
- [transitive] to kill or wound a person or an animal with a bullet, etc.
- shoot somebody/something/yourself He shot himself during a fit of depression.
- shoot somebody/something/yourself in something He was left brain-damaged after being shot in the head.
- They were shot in the back while trying to escape.
- A man was shot in the leg.
- shoot somebody/something/yourself with something In the struggle the burglar was shot with his own gun.
- Four policemen were fatally shot during the incident.
- Three people were shot dead during the robbery.
- Forty people a day are shot and killed in this country.
- She was shot to death for a crime she did not commit.
Extra ExamplesTopics Crime and punishmentb1- Any intruders will be shot on sight.
- He accidentally shot himself in the foot.
- If caught, the men could be summarily shot as spies.
- He was shot at close range.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- accurately
- straight
- accidentally
- …
- want to
- threaten to
- be about to
- …
- at
- in
- into
- …
- shoot (somebody) on sight
- shoot somebody dead
- shoot to kill
- …
- [transitive, intransitive] (of a gun or other weapon) to fire bullets, etc.
- Does this gun actually shoot?
- shoot something This is just a toy gun—it doesn't shoot real bullets.
- [transitive, intransitive] shoot (something) to hunt and kill birds and animals with a gun as a sport
- to shoot pheasants
- They go shooting in Scotland.
- [intransitive, transitive] to make a film or photograph of something
- Cameras ready? OK, shoot!
- shoot something to shoot a film/video/scene
- The film crew returned to the area to shoot more footage.
- I managed to shoot a photo of the elephants before they disappeared into the trees.
- shoot something + adv./prep. Where was the movie shot?
- The movie was shot in black and white.
- The film is beautifully shot and edited.
- The film was shot on location in Death Valley.
- [intransitive, transitive] to move suddenly or quickly in one direction; to make somebody/something move in this way
- + adv./prep. A plane shot across the sky.
- Her hand shot out to grab my wrist.
- Flames were shooting up through the roof.
- (figurative) The band's last single shot straight to number one in the charts.
- shoot something + adv./prep. She shot out her hand to grab my wrist.
Extra Examples- A cat shot out into the road in front of him.
- I saw someone shooting past the window.
- [intransitive] to move suddenly and quickly and be very sharp
- a shooting pain in the back
- + adv./prep. The pain shot up her arm.
- [transitive, no passive] to direct something at somebody suddenly or quickly
- shoot something at somebody Journalists were shooting questions at the candidates.
- She shot an angry glance at him.
- shoot somebody something She shot him an angry glance.
- Darren shot her a filthy look.
- [intransitive, transitive] (in football (soccer), hockey, etc.) to try to kick, hit or throw the ball into a goal or to score a point
- He should have shot instead of passing.
- Marta shot wide (= missed the goal), but scored minutes later.
- (especially North American English) shoot something After school we'd be on the driveway shooting hoops (= playing basketball).
- [transitive] shoot something (informal) (in golf) to make a particular score in a complete round or competition
- She shot a 75 in the first round.
- [transitive] shoot something (especially North American English) to play particular games
- to shoot pool
weapon
for sport
film/photograph
move quickly
of pain
direct at somebody
in sports
play game
Word OriginOld English scēotan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch scieten and German sciessen, also to sheet, the noun shot, and shut.
Idioms
be like shooting fish in a barrel
- (informal) used to emphasize how easy it is to do something
- What do you mean you can't do it? It'll be like shooting fish in a barrel!
give/shoot somebody a dirty look
- (informal) to look at somebody in a way that shows you are annoyed with them
have shot your bolt
- (informal) to have used all your power, money or supplies
shoot the breeze/bull
- (North American English, informal) to have a conversation in an informal way synonym chat
- We sat around in the bar, shooting the breeze.
shoot from the hip
- to react quickly without thinking carefully first
shoot it out (with somebody)
- (informal) to fight against somebody with guns, especially until one side is killed or defeated
- The gang decided to shoot it out with the police.
shoot the messenger
- to blame the person who gives the news that something bad has happened, instead of the person who is really responsible
- Don't shoot the messenger!
shoot your mouth off (about something) (informal)
- to talk about something in a way that shows that you are too proud of itTopics Personal qualitiesc2
- to talk about something that is private or secret
shoot the rapids
- to go in a boat over part of a river where the water flows very fastTopics Transport by waterc2
shoot to fame/stardom
- to suddenly become famous, especially as a singer or actor
- He shot to fame almost overnight.
- She shot to stardom in a Broadway musical.
shoot yourself in the foot
- (informal) to do or say something that will cause you a lot of trouble or harm, especially when you are trying to get an advantage for yourself
