shoot down

Related to shoot down: shot down

shoot down

1. To reject, foil, or disappoint the aspirations of someone or something. A noun or pronoun can be used between "shoot" and "down." I asked John out for a date, but he shot me down. The committee shot down our plans for a new apartment block. The candidate was able to shoot down each of his opponents' claims with indisputable proof.
2. To fire upon an aircraft in order to destroy it or force it to land or crash. A noun or pronoun can be used between "shoot" and "down." We're under orders to shoot down any aircraft in the no-fly zone. If they enter our airspace, shoot them down.
See also: down, shoot
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

shoot (someone, something, or an animal) down

to bring down someone, something, or an animal by gunfire. Fred shot Mike down in the street. They shot down the plane.
See also: down, shoot

shoot something down

Fig. to foil a plan through criticism; to counter an idea with criticism. (Based on shoot someone, something, or an animal down.) He raised a good point, but the others shot him down almost immediately. Liz shot down Jeff's best idea.
See also: down, shoot
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

shoot down

1. Ruin the aspirations of, disappoint, as in Bill was hoping Sharon would go out with him, but she shot him down.
2. Reject, defeat; also, expose as false. For example, It was the best idea I could come up with, but they unanimously shot it down, or It was inevitable that they would shoot down any claim made by the opposing candidate. This colloquial expression, which alludes to bringing down an aircraft or game bird by shooting, is sometimes intensified as shoot down in flames, originally (in World War I) referring to bringing down enemy aircraft but the late 1950s extended to decisively defeating anyone or anything.
See also: down, shoot
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

shoot somebody/something ˈdown (in ˈflames)

(informal) be very critical of somebody’s ideas, opinions, suggestions, etc: I thought it was a brilliant idea, but she shot it down in flames.
See also: down, shoot, somebody, something
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

shoot down

v.
1. To cause something to collapse or fall by striking it with bullets, missiles, or some other projectile; gun down: They shot down the attacking airplanes. The kids released a balloon and shot it down with an air rifle.
2. To kill someone by shooting them; gun down: They stormed into the office and shot down everyone there. The assassin walked up to her target and shot him down.
3. To discredit someone or someone's proposal: Whenever I offer an opinion, they just shoot me down. The council shot down the mayor's proposal. I'm afraid this new evidence shoots down our old theory of what happened.
4. To ruin the aspirations of someone: Their sneers and insults shot me down. A bad critic can shoot down even a very determined artist.
5. To put an end to something; defeat something: The opposition was able to shoot down the proposal. The electorate shot the incumbent down.
See also: down, shoot
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.

shoot someone or something down

tv. to ruin someone or something; to debunk someone or something. (see also shot down.) Just as I was making the final point, she shot me down with a simple fact I should have remembered.
See also: down, shoot, someone, something

shot down

1. mod. demolished; destroyed. I felt shot down, even though I was sure of what I was getting into.
2. mod. rejected by a young woman. Tiffany is a cruel chick. I was shot down from day one.
See also: down, shot
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions

shoot down, to

To refute an argument completely; to debunk or expose as false. The term comes from aerial warfare in World War I and is also put as “shoot down in flames.” During World War II it began to be used figuratively as well. J. B. Hilton used it in Playground of Death (1981): “Please shoot me down in flames if you think I’m making a bloody fool of myself.”
See also: shoot
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • ask back
  • not do (someone or oneself) any favors
  • rescue from
  • rescue from (someone or something)
  • identify with
  • attune to
  • orient
  • orient to
  • orient to (something)
  • involved with
References in periodicals archive
China has refused to confirm the claim made by Latif that JF-17 fighters were used by PAF to shoot down Indian military aircraft.
Shares of JF-17 plane-maker's sister company in China surged after former Pak officer's tweet: Report
| May 29 - Rebels in eastern |Ukraine shoot down a government military helicopter amid heavy fighting around Slovyansk, killing at least 12 soldiers including a general, officials say.
Double denial over 'shot down' jet Double denial over 'shot down' jet
A new Indian law will allow aviation authorities to shoot down commercial aircraft if the aircraft is flown by hijackers toward a strategic location.
Indian law will allow aviation authorities to shoot down hijacked aircraft
These "bedcheck Charlies" created little radar image and flew too low and slow for our jets, which were designed for high-speed dog-fights, to shoot down. It was a time warp in technology--the sort of glitch that happens all the time in the real world.
The door SDI won't shut
After Trump's remarks, Commander of the IRGC Aerospace Force Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh said that his forces could have shot down a US P8 aircraft with 35 on board which was violating Iran's airspace, but decided to shoot down the drone to only send a message to Washington.
Kuwait: No Reroute from Persian Gulf after Iran's Downing of US Spy Drone
Summary: Beijing [China], Mar 3 (ANI): Shares of Chinese JF-17 fighter jet manufacturer's sister company surged after a former Pakistani officeraACAOs tweet claiming the planes were used by Pakistan Air Force (PAF) to shoot down Indian military aircraft, according to a media report.
Shares of JF-17 plane-makeraACAOs sister company in China surged after former Pak officeraACAOs tweet: Report
military plans to try to shoot down a simulated ballistic missile launched from a ship by intercepting it with a rocket fired from Hawaii, according to AP.
US to hold missile defense test off Kauai soon
THE US yesterday announced it is planning to shoot down an out-of-control spy satellite expected to hit the Earth early next month.
world news bulletin: US missile to shoot down spy satellite
First of all, SDI does not resemble a simple shield; it is a group of technologies, in some cases merely vague theories, that would rely on lasers, particle beams, and supercomputers to track and shoot down Soviet missiles.
Star warriors
Summary: TEHRAN (FNA)- Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh said that his forces could have shot down a US P8 aircraft with 35 on board which was violating Iran's airspace, but decided to shoot down the drone to only send a message to Washington.
Commander: Drone Attack Message to US, Iran Could Down P8 Aircraft with 35 Onboard
"The future will show that it was whether Iran's mistake to shoot down the drone or the US mistake to send it to the Iranian territory," Dehqani Poudeh said, adding, "Future will show it was whether Iran's mistake to sign the nuclear deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) or Obama's US who signed it or Trump's US who withdrew from it."
Iranian Aide: Future Shows Who Made "Big Mistake"
Summary: TEHRAN (FNA)- The Yemen popular forces of Ansarullah managed to shoot down a Saudi Coalition spy plane that was seen flying over their positions in Western Yemen.
Ansarullah Forces Shoot down Saudi Coalition Spy Plane in Western Yemen