shoot down

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Word: Shoot Down

Part of Speech: Verb

Basic Meaning: "To shoot down" means to stop something from happening or to reject an idea or proposal. It can also mean to hit something with a projectile (like a bullet) to make it fall, such as an aircraft.

Usage Instructions:

1. To Reject or Thwart: When you "shoot down" a proposal or idea, you are saying no to it or finding faults with it.
2. To Hit or Bring Down: When you "shoot down" an aircraft, it means you destroy it or make it crash by shooting at it.

Examples:

1. Rejecting an Idea:

   • "The manager shot down the employee's suggestion for a new project because it was too expensive."

2. Bringing Down an Aircraft:

   • "The military successfully shot down the enemy's drone during the operation."

Advanced Usage:

• In a Discussion: You might encounter "shoot down" in debates or meetings when someone strongly disagrees with a proposal.
  • "During the meeting, several board members shot down the idea of expanding the office."

Word Variants:

• Noun: Shootdown (the act of shooting something down, like an aircraft)
  • "The shootdown of the enemy plane was reported in the news."

Different Meanings:

• Physical Action: "Shoot down" can refer to a physical action (like shooting a gun).
• Metaphorical Action: It can also be used metaphorically to describe rejecting ideas.

Synonyms:

• Reject
• Dismiss
• Disagree
• Overrule
• Downvote (in a voting context)

Related Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• "Shoot from the hip": To speak or act quickly without thinking carefully.
• "Shoot for the stars": To aim high or have ambitious goals.

Summary:

"Shoot down" is a versatile verb that can be used in both literal and figurative contexts. Whether you are rejecting a proposal in a meeting or discussing military actions, the phrase conveys the idea of stopping or bringing something down.

Academic

Verb

1. thwart the passage of
   • kill a motion
   • he shot down the student's proposal
2. shoot at and force to come down
   • the enemy landed several of our aircraft
3. move quickly and violently
   • The car tore down the street
   • He came charging into my office

Synonyms

• kill
• defeat
• vote down
• vote out
• down
• land
• tear
• shoot
• charge
• buck