take a potshot/potshots
take a pot shot
1. To fire a shot 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!
2. By extension, to direct a cheap, unfair, or opportunistic insult or criticism at someone, especially 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, take
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
take a ˈpotshot/ˈpotshots (at somebody/something)
(informal)1 fire at somebody without aiming carefully: Somebody took a potshot at him as he drove past.
2 criticize somebody suddenly and without thinking: The newspapers took potshots at his attempts to get into the movie business.This was originally a shot fired from a close distance to kill an animal for food (for the pot). As the shot required no skill it broke the rules of sport.
See also: potshot, take
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
- take a pot shot
- take a potshot at
- pot shot
- potshot
- 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
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