shot heard round the world

Cultural  

1. A phrase from a poem by Ralph Waldo Emerson about the Battle of Lexington and Concord. Emerson's words read, “Here once the embattled farmers stood / And fired the shot heard round the world.” In other words, the determination of the colonists at Concord led to the establishment of a new nation on Earth and encouraged worldwide movements toward democracy.

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Example Sentences

Though the king did not personally trigger the shot heard round the world, he nonetheless helped pave the path toward war.

From National Geographic • Jul. 3, 2023

In fact, you could call it the high-tech shot heard round the world.

From US News • Jun. 27, 2016

To fire a shot heard round the world like at Lexington and Concord, and then they do it at this same place on the same day!” he said.

From Salon • Apr. 22, 2013

Open, when amateur Francis Ouimet beat Brit titans Harry Vardon and Ted Ray in a playoff, "the shot heard round the world."

From Golf Digest • Oct. 13, 2010

This essay was published in 1836, the same year in which he wrote the Concord hymn, since annually sung, with its line about "the shot heard round the world."

From Great Men and Famous Women, Vol. 7 A Series of Pen and Pencil Sketches of the Lives of More Than 200 of the Most Prominent Personages in History by Horne, Charles F. (Charles Francis)