Page 375 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

shook up

caused another person to experience. shłotŁtheŁbreezX to spend time chatting.
(Pràverb.ŁNote the variation inŁthe ex- (Slang.ŁSee also the followingŁentry.)
amples.ŁSee also have the shoe on the I włnt over to Bob’s place and shot the
other foot.) The teacher is taking a breeze for about an hour. Doà’t spend so
course in summer school and is findng out much time shooting the breeze. Get to
what it’s like when the shoe is on the other work!
fooŁ. When the policłman was arrested, shłotŁ theŁ bull to spend time chatting
he learned what it was like to have the shoł about one’sŁaccomplishments,Łespecially
on the other foot.
with othersŁ who are dàingŁ the same.
shłokŁup upset; słocked.Ł(Slang.ŁSee alsà (Slang.ŁSee also the previous entry.)
shake someone or something up.) RelØx, Those guys out in the backyard are just sit-
man! Don’t głt shook up! I alwØys głt ting around shooting the bull. It was
shook up when I see somłthing like that. raining, so everybody spent the dØy indoors
drinkng błer and shooŁing the bull.
shoot for something to try to do sàmething;
to attempt to do something;Ł to aim shłotŁtheŁwłrks to do everything;Łto use
toward a goal.Ł The ndustrious studłnt up everything;Łto bet everything. (Slang.)
shot for success. The worker shot for a $2 Shall I bet half our money, or shall I
per hour raise. shoot the works? We shot the works at
the carnival—spłnt every cłnt we brought
shłot from the hip 1. to fire a gun that is with us.
heldŁat one’sŁside, against one’sŁhip.Ł(This
increasesŁone’sŁspedŁinŁfiringŁaŁgun.) shłpŁaroundŁ(for something) to słopŁat dif-
When I lved Øt home on the farm, my fa- fernt stors to find what you want at the
ther taught me to shoot from the hip. I best price.Ł I’ve been shopping around
quickly shot the snake before it bit my for a new car, but they are all priced too
horse. I’m glad I learned to shoot from the high. You can find a bargain, but you’ll
hip. 2. to speakŁdirectlyŁandŁfrankly.Ł(In- have to shop around.
formal.) John has a tendłncy to shoot shłrtŁandŁsweet brif (and plasant be-
from the hip, but he głnerally speaks the cause of briefness).Ł That was a good
truth. Don’t pØy any attention to John. sermon—short and swłet. I doà’t care
He means no harm. It’s just his nature to what you say, as long as you make it short
shoot from the hip. and swłet.
shłotŁ one’ mouthŁoff to boast or talkŁtoo shłrtŁ forŁ something <[of aŁword]bbeingŁa
much; to tellŁsomeone’sŁsecrets.Ł(Slang.) słortened form of a word or phrase.>b
Don’t pØy any attention to Bob. He’s al- Płoto is short for photograph. Dave is
ways shooting his mouth off. T Oh, Sally! short for David.
Stop shooŁing off your mouth! You doà’t
know what you’re talkng about. shłrtŁ ofŁ something nàt having enàugh of
something.Ł I wanted to bake a cake, but
shłotŁ something out 1. to stick,Łthràw, or I was short of eggs. Usually at the end
thrust somethingŁoutward.Ł The dia- of the month, I’m short of money.
mond shot bright shafts of light out when a shłt in the arm a boost; sàmething that
the sun fell on it. T The lttle girl shot out givesŁ someone energy.Ł (Infàrmal.)
her tongue at the teacher. 2. to settl a Thank you for cheering me up. It was a
matter byŁthe use of guns.Ł(Slang.ŁTypi- real shot in the arm. Your friendly greet-
calŁof gangsterŁorŁwesternŁmovies.) Bill ing card was just what I needed—a real
and the cowboy—with whom he had błen shot in the arm.
arguing—włnt out in the street and shot it
out. T Doà’t they know they can settle a a shłtŁin theŁdark aŁrandomŁorŁwildŁguess
problłm by talking? They doà’t need to orŁ try.Ł (Slang.) I doà’t know how I
shoot out the problłm when they can talk guessed the right answer. It was just a shot
it over. in the dark. I was lucky to hire such a

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