can't hit the broad side of a barn



can't hit the broad side of a barn

Have very poor aim. For example, That rookie can't hit the broad side of a barn, let alone strike anyone out or, as put in The New Republic (February 19, 1990): "Their missiles couldn't hit the broad side of a barn." This hyperbolic term, dating from the mid-1800s, at first denoted poor marksmanship. Around 1900 it also began to be used in baseball, for a pitcher with poor aim.
See also: barn, broad, hit, of, side

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
JosÉPhinezho-ze-FEENFrench
Deane[di:n]
TristanTRIS-tən (English), trees-TAWN (French)Welsh, English, French, Arthurian Romance
Rosanna[rəu'zænə]
Zaharinka-Bulgarian, Macedonian
Ahenobarbus-Ancient Roman