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- shoot from the hip
shoot from the hip
shoot from the hip
1. Lit. to fire a gun that is held at one's side, beside one's hip. (This increases one's speed in firing a gun but is much less accurate.) When I lived at home on the farm, my father taught me to shoot from the hip. I quickly shot the snake before it bit my horse. I'm glad I learned to shoot from the hip.
2. Fig. to speak directly and frankly. (Alluding to the rapidness of firing a gun from the hip.) John has a tendency to shoot from the hip, but he generally speaks the truth. Don't pay any attention to John. He means no harm. It's just his nature to shoot from the hip.
shoot from the hip
to react quickly without considering the possible effects He works slowly and methodically while she jumps quickly into projects and shoots from the hip, but they make a good team.
shoot from the hip
to react to a situation very quickly and with a lot of force, without thinking about the possible effects of your actions His critics accuse him of shooting from the hip when challenged.
shoot from the hip
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.
shoot from the hip
in. to speak quickly and without thinking. (see also
hip-shooter.)
She has a tendency to shoot from the hip, but that’s not really a problem. shoot from the hip
Slang To act or speak on a matter without forethought.