pot shot

pot shot

1. A shot fired easily or recklessly. The phrase comes from hunting (in which shots ideally yield food for one's pot). You boys can't just take pot shots at any creature you see—there are rules we have to follow out here! Why did you fire a pot shot like that and betray our position to the enemy?
2. By extension, an unfair or opportunistic insult or criticism, especially one directed at someone who is vulnerable. Now that everyone knows I was involved in that scandal, the reporters love taking pot shots at me.
See also: pot, shot
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

potshot

n. a sharp criticism; a wild shot of criticism. (Usually with take.) Please stop taking potshots at me!
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • potshot
  • take a pot shot
  • take a potshot at
  • take a potshot/potshots
  • take the ball before the bound
  • (as) sure as eggs (is eggs)
  • a penny for them
  • be twiddling (one's) thumbs
  • be twiddling your thumbs
  • 57
References in periodicals archive
Gauribidanur (Karnataka) [India], May 08 ( ANI ): Taking a pot shot at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said that he only says his 'Mann Ki Baat', but does not listen to what the country has to say to him.
PM Modi only says his 'Mann Ki Baat': Rahul
"They are nutters, taking pot shots out of windows.
tartan army fan shot by airgun sniper; Man attacked in street after night out exclusive
Who's going to take a pot shot at Lady Gaga?" the New York Daily News quoted Treacy as saying.
Lady Gaga to intern with Beatrice's 'wacky hat' creator Philip Treacy
SHAUN MURPHY took a pot shot at Crucible rival Ding Junhui after surviving a first-round scare against Gerard Greene at the Betfred World Championship last night.
REAL DING-DONG BATTLE
SHAUN MURPHY took a pot shot at Ding Junhui after surviving a first-round scare against Gerard Greene at the Betfred World Championship last night.
REAL DING-DONG BATTLE
Gary Croft gathered a clearance 30 yards out and tried a speculative pot shot against the wind.
Football: Tough on Ben but that's the way it blows!; Crewe 0 Cardiff 1
The 33-year-old turned the tables and declared on his Twitter site: "I demand Jack Straw pays the pounds 7billion he squandered on the Iraq war we didn't want." He then took a pot shot at the politician's son William who was caught selling cannabis in 1997.
RUSSELL: JACK'S A REAL TWITTER; Brand blasts Straw over 'pay BBC fine' jibe
Funny how when you get a few quid in your pocket, you start to take a pot shot at your countrymen.
Letter: Your view - Hannah's a banana
Davies stuck the ball into the roof of the net - and was unlucky to see a brilliant pot shot strike the far post.
DAVIES IN THE PINK; CHAMPIONSHIP ALL LAST NIGHT'S ACTION Coca Cola South'pton 1 Derby 1
Robert takes a pot shot at the dodgy businessman who, in his long Neighbours career, has proved indestructible, having survived a plane crash, a leg amputation and assassination attempts.
Soap stories: Is it Paul over? NEIGHBOURS WEEKDAYS, BBC1,5.35pm
Then, a day late, used a pot shot at the Daily Record as a weasel way of running the story for themselves.
Bob Shields: Rear-end of the year
Maradona, who has been called the greatest player of all time, also takes a pot shot at Beckham in the book.
Beckham too pretty for footie
Actor Pierce Brosnan swerves around in a dodgem, takes a pot shot at plastic ducks to win a cuddly gonk and prepares for a soaking on the log flume while clinging on to daughter Charlotte.
Dodgems are Forever: The Gonk Is Not Enough: The Spy Who Soaked Me
On Pages 36 and 41, Record writer Bob Shields takes a pot shot at snooker stardom.
SCOTLAND ON FRIDAY
And as for Douglas Lumsden, pictured, rather than taking pot shots at other party members, he could put on a boiler suit and assist with bin collections, as in my opinion he would be better suited doing that than what he is doing now.
Poll demonstrates public anger at council