shoot from the hip

Idioms  

1. Speak or act recklessly or impulsively, as in Steve isn't very tactful; indeed, he's known for shooting from the hip. This expression transfers the fast shooting accomplished by drawing a gun from a holster and shooting without raising it to quick speaking or acting. [Slang; mid-1900s] For a similar transfer, see shoot off one's mouth.

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Example Sentences

“But to exercise my discretion properly, I’m not going to shoot from the hip right here on the bench,” Ho said on Wednesday.

From Salon • Feb. 21, 2025

But, he added, “let’s not shoot from the hip because then the people who really pay the price, regulatory-wise, are the ones who have been using it in a responsible manner all along.”

From New York Times • Apr. 20, 2023

"He is thoughtful, he does not shoot from the hip, and will be seeking to design an optimal sustainable policy framework rather than looking for big, quick wins."

From BBC • Feb. 14, 2023

“Some directors shoot from the hip, and you have to find the scene in there and you’ve got to find the story,” she said.

From Washington Post • Dec. 19, 2017

So I decided to just not say anything at all about it, then shoot from the hip when she started asking questions.

From "When I Was the Greatest" by Jason Reynolds