shot full of holes

shoot full of holes

1. To shoot (something) multiple times. A noun or pronoun is used between "shoot" and "full." The gangsters shot the poor man all full of holes right on the doorstep of his house. Stray gunfire shot the building full of holes.
2. To find or point out the flaws in some argument, thesis, assertion, etc., through excessive analysis or criticism. A noun or pronoun is used between "shoot" and "full." The scientist spent the whole debate shooting his opponent's conspiracy theory full of holes. I thought my idea was pretty clever, but my PhD supervisor shot if full of holes.
See also: full, hole, of, shoot

shot full of holes

1. Shot multiple times. Police found the gangster shot full of holes. My car was parked outside of the bank during the robbery, and it ended up shot full of holes during the ensuing gunfight with police.
2. Comprehensively unsound or flawed; having many faults or problems that do not stand up to scrutiny or criticism. Alludes to a vessel that has been pierced multiple times by bullets and thus can no longer hold its contents. Does anyone have a better suggestion? Mark's idea is clearly shot full of holes. The suspect's whole alibi is shot full of holes.
See also: full, hole, of, shot
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

shot full of holes

 and shot to ribbons; shot to hell; shot to pieces 
1. Fig. [of an argument that is] demolished or comprehensively destroyed. Come on, that theory was shot full of holes ages ago. Your argument is all shot to hell.
2. to be very intoxicated due to drink or drugs. Tipsy? Shot to ribbons, more like! Boy, I really felt shot full of holes. I'll never drink another drop.
3. totally ruined. (Use hell with caution.) My car is all shot to hell and can't be depended on. This rusty old knife is shot to hell. I need a sharper one.
See also: full, hole, of, shot
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • shoot full of holes
  • fill (someone) full of lead
  • fill full of lead
  • fill someone full of lead
  • full circle, come
  • full of years
  • be full of beans
  • glass
  • seize the moment
  • full up
References in periodicals archive
What the Taoiseach said was a "bulletproof " deal on Friday has now been shot full of holes.
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Department of Justice's lawsuit attacking the deal was shot full of holes. In separate responses to the lawsuit, the two carriers said the government's challenge showed a lack of knowledge of the airline industry."
The Brief: Sept. 11, 2013
But more compelling by far is Remington's response to the one-sided reporting, including such aspects as CNBC failing to mention if a trigger had been tampered with or that the "expert" witness is a repeat paid plaintiff's testifier who has never proven his own supposed "debris theory" Remington's response shows the CNBC allegations to be, well, shot full of holes. Don't miss their response (and the testimonial of their unpaid expert) at--remington700.tv
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If the high court decides yes, then state and local gun regulations across the nation could be shot full of holes."
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This from a woman who has had her character shot full of holes already by one of the highest judges in the land.
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Authority chair Coun Dave McLuckie said hopefully the meeting was a sign that the ambulance service realised centralising control operations in two contact centres on Tyneside was "shot full of holes - and is based on assumptions which do not stand up to scrutiny."
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System shot full of holes, I joined my family in the shady bits on the grass next to the parade ring and ate a crepe smothered with fig jam.
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It did not help Black's case that his historical work concerning the incorporation of the Bill of Rights against the states was shot full of holes in the academic press.
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The big bull was nothing more than a rusty tin can shot full of holes the day before, when it was an Apache warrior bent on taking my scalp.
One hundred years of memories
Their financial argument, claiming the saving of pounds 700million, was shot full of holes. Their review of prisons estates was shown to be fundamentally flawed.
Jim's one man band
He said we are a tiny Los Angeles: car-dominated and shot full of holes created by parking lots and isolated, one-story, characterless buildings.
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