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Synonyms

like a shot

Idioms  
  1. Very rapidly, as in When they asked for volunteers, he raised his hand like a shot. This expression alludes to the rapidity of gunfire. [Colloquial; late 1800s]


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

I kind of knew that, but when she had that reaction, which was not feigned at all, that was like a shot of advice from the heart.

From The Wall Street Journal Jan. 26, 2026

Asking a general-use chatbot for health help used to seem like a shot in the dark—just two years ago, a study found that ChatGPT could diagnose only 2 in 10 pediatric cases correctly.

From Slate Jan. 21, 2026

Its lawsuit, then, looks like a shot across the NLRB’s bow.

From Los Angeles Times Jan. 31, 2024

The term “lame duck” dates to 18th-century England, when it was first used to describe bankrupt businessmen who were rendered impotent like a shot game bird.

From New York Times Dec. 16, 2022

The timid creature jumped like a shot rabbit and dropped the pocketbook.

From "Johnny Tremain" by Esther Hoskins Forbes

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