Parthian shot

American  

noun

1. a sharp, telling remark, act, gesture, etc., made in departing.

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Parthian shot British  

noun

1. another term for parting shot

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Etymology

Origin of Parthian shot

First recorded in 1900–05; so called from the ancient Parthian cavalry's habit of shooting arrows rearward at the enemy while in real or feigned flight

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Parthian shot

It’s his last one, his peace-out, his Parthian shot, his doch-an-dorrach.

From The Guardian ● Jan. 12, 2016

Hugh Johnson, letting go a Parthian shot at Miss Thompson* in his own column, made it clear that he was quitting the field because he could not handle both his column and his air assignment.

From Time Magazine Archive

There is no answer to the old man's Parthian shot: "If you live."

From Time Magazine Archive

As he left, he fired a Parthian shot: The A.A.R. "has encouraged . . . noncompetitive practices," thus also encouraged Federal antitrust action.

From Time Magazine Archive

I am not ashamed to confess that my spirits were rather dashed by his Excellency's Parthian shot, and I could see that the colonel himself was no less perturbed.

From A Man of Mark by Hope, Anthony