shoot-up

[shoot-uhp]

noun

Slang.

1. an act or instance of injecting an addictive drug intravenously.

2. shootout.

shoot up

verb

1. (intr) to grow or become taller very fast

2. (tr) to hit with a number of shots

3. (tr) to spread terror throughout (a place) by lawless and wanton shooting

4. slang,  (tr) to inject (someone, esp oneself) with (a drug, esp heroin)

Word History and Origins

Origin of shoot up¹

First recorded in 1965–70; noun use of verb phrase shoot up

Idioms and Phrases

Grow or get taller very rapidly, as in She's really shot up in the last year, and now she's taller than her mother . [First half of 1500s]

Riddle with bullets; damage or terrorize with gunfire. For example, I liked the scene in which the cowboy stomps into the saloon, gets drunk, and shoots the place up . [Late 1800s]

Inject a drug intravenously, especially an illegal drug. For example, The police caught him shooting up and arrested him . [ Slang ; first half of 1900s]

Example Sentences

The two former Utah Cord Bank employees described “shoot-up parties” where the staff were given vials of the product for personal use.

Read more on The New Yorker

“It’s basically a shoot-up zone,” Choy says.

Read more on The Guardian

They walk in pairs by row houses, empty storefronts and shoot-up spots in this Hudson River city.

Read more on Washington Times

Sidewalk prayers near shoot-up spots.

Read more on Washington Times

He also is accused of making threats to shoot-up the school.

Read more on Seattle Times

Related Words

• cover 
• develop 
• draw 
• expand 
• fill 
• go 
• grow 
• lengthen 
• open 
• pull 
• reach 
• run 
• span 
• spread 
• strain 
• swell 
• unfold 
• widen