ride shotgun

Idioms  

1. Guard someone or something while in transit, as in The reporter found himself in the odd position of riding shotgun for an accused mobster. This term alludes to the armed defender of a stagecoach who sat beside the driver to protect against marauders and bandits. Later it was transferred to anyone riding in the front passenger seat of a motor vehicle, as well as to the more general function of protection. [Mid-1900s]

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Example Sentences

Georgiou plotted a U.S. trip, recruited his mom to ride shotgun and picked up a rented Mazda SUV in Chicago.

From Los Angeles Times • May 12, 2026

I hadn’t had the experience, so to have someone you can ride shotgun with was great.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 13, 2023

As part of the gig she got to ride shotgun in an Indy car before the race, hitting speeds of 190 miles per hour.

From New York Times • Jul. 20, 2023

People also have a deep and abiding respect for human nature; our vices ride shotgun.

From Washington Post • Jul. 15, 2022

After all that work, it seemed only fair that Tyson would ride shotgun with me, though I knew the horses wouldn’t like it, and Tyson’s extra weight would slow us down.

From "The Sea of Monsters" by Rick Riordan