1shot 
/ˈʃɑ:t/ noun
plural shots /ˈʃɑ:t/ noun 1 [count] : an act of shooting a gun
▪ Two shots were heard. = Two shots rang out. ▪ She fired a warning shot into the air. [=she fired/shot a gun into the air as a warning] ▪ He took a shot at the deer. [=he tried to shoot the deer; he fired a gun at the deer] — see also gunshot, potshot 2 [noncount] a : buckshot
b : the objects (called ammunition) that are shot from cannons and other old-fashioned weapons
▪ musket/cannon shot — see also slingshot 3 [count] : a person who shoots a gun
▪ She is a very good shot. [=she is skilled in shooting a gun] ▪ You're not a bad shot. [=you are able to shoot a gun fairly well] — see also big shot 4 [count] : a critical or hurtful remark
▪ They took shots at each other throughout the debate. ▪ As her parting shot [=her final critical comment], she said that the other candidate simply did not understand the needs of the city's citizens. — see also cheap shot, potshot 5 [count] : the act of hitting someone or something with your hand or an object
▪ The boxer got in a few good shots on his opponent. ▪ She took a shot at me [=tried to hit me] with a snowball but missed. 6 [count] a : an act of kicking, hitting, or throwing a ball or puck toward or into a goal
▪ She scored on a perfect shot from the right wing. ▪ Wow! That was a good/great shot! ▪ He made the shot. [=got the ball or puck in the goal] ▪ He took a shot [=threw the ball toward the goal] but missed.
b : a ball or puck that is kicked, hit, or thrown toward or into a goal
▪ The shot went between the goalie's legs. ▪ Her shot landed on the putting green. — see also chip shot, foul shot, jump shot, slap shot 7 [count] a : an attempt to do something successfully — usually singular ▪ You should give it a shot. [=you should try to do it] ▪ I'll give you one more shot. [=I'll let you try one more time] ▪ They lost, but at least they gave it their best shot. [=try, effort] — often + at ▪ Take another shot at the math problem. ▪ I never changed a tire before, but I'll have a shot at it. ▪ I took/had a shot at (guessing) the answer and guessed right.
b : a chance that something will happen or be achieved — usually singular ▪ The horse has a 12 to 1 shot of winning. ▪ It's a 10 to 1 shot that he'll be on time. — often + at ▪ The team has a good shot at winning. ▪ She has a shot at (winning) the title. — see also long shot 8 [count] informal : 1photograph — often + of ▪ I got some good shots [=pictures] of the kids. ▪ Be sure to take/get a couple shots of the car. — see also mug shot, snapshot 9 [count] : a part of a movie or a television show that is filmed by one camera without stopping
▪ the movie's opening shot ▪ a close-up shot of a beehive 10 [count] chiefly US : an act of putting something (such as medicine or vaccine) into the body with a needle : injection
▪ a flu shot — often + of ▪ a shot of morphine/Novocain 11 [count] a : a small amount of a drink and especially a strong alcoholic drink
▪ tequila shots ▪ a shot glass — often + of ▪ a shot of whisky/espresso —called also (Brit) short
b : a small amount of something — often + of ▪ The pilot took a shot of oxygen. ▪ My speech could use a shot of humor. 12 [count] : a heavy metal ball that people throw as far as they can in the athletic event called the shot put
▪ Two shots were heard. = Two shots rang out. ▪ She fired a warning shot into the air. [=she fired/shot a gun into the air as a warning] ▪ He took a shot at the deer. [=he tried to shoot the deer; he fired a gun at the deer] — see also gunshot, potshot
b : the objects (called ammunition) that are shot from cannons and other old-fashioned weapons
▪ musket/cannon shot — see also slingshot
▪ She is a very good shot. [=she is skilled in shooting a gun] ▪ You're not a bad shot. [=you are able to shoot a gun fairly well] — see also big shot
▪ They took shots at each other throughout the debate. ▪ As her parting shot [=her final critical comment], she said that the other candidate simply did not understand the needs of the city's citizens. — see also cheap shot, potshot
▪ The boxer got in a few good shots on his opponent. ▪ She took a shot at me [=tried to hit me] with a snowball but missed.
▪ She scored on a perfect shot from the right wing. ▪ Wow! That was a good/great shot! ▪ He made the shot. [=got the ball or puck in the goal] ▪ He took a shot [=threw the ball toward the goal] but missed.
b : a ball or puck that is kicked, hit, or thrown toward or into a goal
▪ The shot went between the goalie's legs. ▪ Her shot landed on the putting green. — see also chip shot, foul shot, jump shot, slap shot
b : a chance that something will happen or be achieved — usually singular ▪ The horse has a 12 to 1 shot of winning. ▪ It's a 10 to 1 shot that he'll be on time. — often + at ▪ The team has a good shot at winning. ▪ She has a shot at (winning) the title. — see also long shot
▪ the movie's opening shot ▪ a close-up shot of a beehive
▪ a flu shot — often + of ▪ a shot of morphine/Novocain
▪ tequila shots ▪ a shot glass — often + of ▪ a shot of whisky/espresso —called also (Brit) short
b : a small amount of something — often + of ▪ The pilot took a shot of oxygen. ▪ My speech could use a shot of humor.
a shot
a shot across the/someone's bow(s)
: a warning to not do something or to stop doing something
▪ The fine is a shot across the bow to an industry that thinks it can ignore the law.
▪ The fine is a shot across the bow to an industry that thinks it can ignore the law.
a shot in the arm
: something that makes someone or something stronger or more active, confident, etc.
▪ The award has given the school a much needed shot in the arm.
▪ The award has given the school a much needed shot in the arm.
a shot in the dark 1 : a guess that is based on very little or no information or evidence
▪ Estimating the cost of a project like this is often a shot in the dark. 2 : an attempt that is not likely to succeed
▪ I know it's a shot in the dark, but I still think we can convince them to join us.
▪ Estimating the cost of a project like this is often a shot in the dark.
▪ I know it's a shot in the dark, but I still think we can convince them to join us.
call the shots
informal : to be in charge or control of something
▪ Who's the one who calls the shots around here?
▪ Who's the one who calls the shots around here?
like a shot
: immediately and very quickly
▪ He started the car and took off like a shot.
▪ He started the car and took off like a shot.
