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Synonyms

parting shot

American  

noun

  1. a threat, insult, condemnation, sarcastic retort, or the like, uttered upon leaving.

parting shot British  

noun

  1. Also called: Parthian shot.  a hostile remark or gesture delivered while departing

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
parting shot Idioms  

  1. A final insult or last word in an argument, as in As she stalked out, Jane hurled as a parting shot, “And I quit!” This idiom apparently originated as a corruption of Parthian shot, referring to the practice of ancient Parthian warriors of turning back to shoot at their pursuers. [Late 1800s]

Etymology

Origin of parting shot

First recorded in 1890–95; perhaps by folk etymology from Parthian shot

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.

Powell’s term as Fed chair is already supposed to end in May — so the investigation comes more as a parting shot as Powell decides whether to serve out his term as a Fed governor.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 25, 2026

Penn State was just getting started even if the Bruins did deliver a parting shot with Martin’s late touchdown pass.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 5, 2024

As Remi packed her bags, Margery delivered a parting shot that was nonsensical but somehow devastating: When the big one comes, you won’t even notice it’s happening.

From Slate • Jan. 27, 2024

And with a parting shot at "the filth and decay" of the city in which he was once commander-in-chief, he added: "This is not the place that I left."

From BBC • Aug. 3, 2023

She’s just being awful, just trying to get me in trouble with a parting shot.

From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.