like a shot

shot¹ (sh

1. The firing or discharge of a weapon, such as a gun.

2. The distance over which something is shot; the range.

a. An attempt to hit a target with a projectile: His shot at the bear missed by inches.

b. An attempt to reach a target with a rocket: a moon shot.

a. Sports An attempt to score in a game, as in soccer or hockey.

b. Baseball A home run.

5. Sports & Games

a. The flight or path of a projectile in a game.

b. A stroke in a game, as in golf or billiards.

6. A pointed or critical remark.

7. Informal

a. An attempt; a try: took a shot at losing weight.

b. A guess.

c. An opportunity: gave him a fair shot at the part in the play.

d. A chance at odds; something to bet on: The horse was a four-to-one shot.

a. A solid projectile designed to be discharged from a firearm or cannon.

b. pl. shot Such projectiles considered as a group.

c. pl. shot Tiny lead or steel pellets, especially ones used in a shotgun cartridge.

d. One of these pellets.

9. Sports The heavy metal ball that is put for distance in the shot put.

10. One who shoots in a particular way: a good shot with the rifle and the bow.

11.

a. A charge of explosives used in blasting mine shafts.

b. A detonation of an explosive charge.

12.

a. A photographic view or exposure: got a good shot of that last model.

b. A developed photographic image.

c. A single cinematic take.

13.

a. A hypodermic injection.

b. A small amount given or applied at one time: a shot of oxygen.

14. A drink, especially a jigger of liquor.

15. An amount to be paid, as for drinks; a bill.

16. Nautical A length of chain equal to 15 fathoms (90 feet) in the United States and 12 ¹/₂ fathoms (75 feet) in Great Britain.

tr.v. shot·ted, shot·ting, shots

To load or weight with shot.

Idioms:

like a shot

Very quickly.

shot in the arm Informal

Something that boosts one's spirits.

shot in the dark Informal

1. A wild unsubstantiated guess.

2. An attempt that has little chance of succeeding.

[Middle English, from Old English sceot, scot; see skeud- in Indo-European roots.]

shot² (sh

Past tense and past participle of shoot.

adj.

a. Of changeable or variegated color; iridescent.

b. Streaked or flecked with or as if with yarn of a different color: a blue suit shot with purple; a forest glade that was shot with sunlight.

c. Interspersed or permeated with a distinctive quality: Her apology was shot with irony.

2. Informal

a. Worn-out; ruined.

b. Exhausted; thoroughly tired.

ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms

Adv.

like a shot - without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening; "he answered immediately"; "found an answer straightaway"; "an official accused of dishonesty should be suspended forthwith"; "Come here now!"

forthwith, immediately, instantly, at once, right away, straight off, straightaway, directly, now

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approach shot basketball shot buckshot case shot charity shot charity throw charity toss cheap shot chip shot dunk shot foul shot free throw golf shot hook shot jump shot Masse shot pellet penalty free throw pitch shot	ligulate Ligulate flower ligule Liguliflorous Liguorian Liguorist ligure Ligures Liguria Ligurian Ligurian Sea Ligustrin Ligustrum Ligustrum amurense Ligustrum ibolium Ligustrum japonicum Ligustrum lucidum Ligustrum obtusifolium Ligustrum ovalifolium Ligustrum vulgare lii liii likable Likasi like like a shot like a trooper like an expert Like blazes like blue murder like clockwork like crazy Like figures like hell like kings like mad like royalty like sin like the devil like thunder like-minded like-named likeable likeableness liked Likehood likelihood Likeliness likely liken likeness	like a flash like a flash like a flash like a flash Like A Fox like a headless chicken like a hot knife through butter like a hot knife through butter like a hot knife through butter like a hot knife through butter like a house afire like a house on fire like a kid with a new toy like a knife through butter like a knife through butter like a knife through butter like a knife through butter like a lamb like a lamb to the slaughter like a lost soul like a man possessed like a million like a million dollars Like A Mother Figure like a ripe plum like a ripe plum like a ripe plum like a ripe plum like a ripe plum like a shag on a rock like a shot like a sitting duck like a three-ring circus like a ton of bricks like a trooper Like a Virgin like a woman possessed like an expert like anything Like Apoptotic Protease 6 like as not like as not like better Like blazes like blue blazes like blue murder Like breeds like Like button like clockwork like clockwork like clockwork like crazy like crazy like crazy like death like death warmed over like death warmed over like death warmed over like death warmed over like death warmed over like death warmed up

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approach shot
basketball shot
buckshot
case shot
charity shot
charity throw
charity toss
cheap shot
chip shot
dunk shot
foul shot
free throw
golf shot
hook shot
jump shot
Masse shot
pellet
penalty free throw
pitch shot

like a shot

like a sitting duck
like a three-ring circus
like a ton of bricks
like a trooper
Like a Virgin
like a woman possessed
like an expert
like anything
Like Apoptotic Protease 6
like as not
like as not
like better
Like blazes
like blue blazes
like blue murder
Like breeds like
Like button
like clockwork
like clockwork
like clockwork
like crazy
like crazy
like crazy
like death
like death warmed over
like death warmed over
like death warmed over
like death warmed over
like death warmed over
like death warmed up