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Antonyms for shoot down


Grammar : Verb
Spell : shoot-doun
Phonetic Transcription : ˈʃutˌdaʊn



Definition of shoot down

Origin :
  • Old English sceotan "to hurl missiles, cast; strike, hit, push; run, rush; send forth swiftly; wound with missiles" (class II strong verb; past tense sceat, past participle scoten), from Proto-Germanic *skeutanan (cf. Old Saxon skiotan, Old Norse skjota "to shoot with (a weapon); shoot, launch, push, shove quickly," Old Frisian skiata, Middle Dutch skieten, Dutch schieten, Old High German skiozan, German schießen), from PIE root *skeud- "to shoot, to chase, to throw, to project" (cf. Sanskrit skundate "hastens, makes haste," Old Church Slavonic iskydati "to throw out," Lithuanian skudrus "quick, nimble").
  • In reference to pool playing, from 1926. Meaning "to strive (for)" is from 1967, American English. Sense of "descend (a river) quickly" is from 1610s. Meaning "to inject by means of a hypodermic needle" is attested from 1914. Meaning "photograph" (especially a movie) is from 1890. As an interjection, an arbitrary euphemistic alteration of shit, it is recorded from 1934. Shoot the breeze "chat" first recorded 1941. Shoot-'em-up (adj.) in reference to violent entertainment (Western movies, etc.) is from 1942. Shoot to kill first attested 1867. Shoot the cat "to vomit" is from 1785. To shoot the moon originally meant "depart by night with ones goods to escape back rent" (1829).
  • O, 'tis cash makes such crowds to the gin shops roam,And 'tis cash often causes a rumpus at home ;'Tis when short of cash people oft shoot the moon ;And 'tis cash always keeps our pipes in tune.Cash! cash! &c.["The Melodist and Mirthful Olio, An Elegant Collection of the Most Popular Songs," vol. IV, London, 1829]
  • As in assault : verb attack
  • As in obliterate : verb destroy
  • As in oppugn : verb oppose
  • As in attack : verb assault verbally
  • As in refute : verb prove false; discredit
  • As in reject : verb say no to
  • As in repeal : verb declare null and void
  • As in shame : verb disgrace, embarrass
  • As in slam : verb criticize very harshly
  • As in belittle : verb detract
  • As in veto : verb refuse permission
  • As in best : verb defeat; gain advantage
  • As in bring down : verb reduce or hurt
  • As in immobilize : verb disable
  • As in scarify : verb slam
  • As in scathe : verb slam
  • As in debase : verb degrade, shame
  • As in deflate : verb humiliate
  • As in degrade : verb shame, humiliate
  • As in disable : verb render inoperative; cripple
  • As in eradicate : verb destroy; remove
  • As in explode : verb discredit
  • As in fell : verb chop down
  • As in humiliate : verb embarrass, put down
Example sentences :
  • The plan of the conspirators had been to shoot down the horses and overpower the escort.
  • Extract from : « The Secret Agent » by Joseph Conrad
  • He drew his gun to shoot down the glittering, wheeling metal bird.
  • Extract from : « Watchbird » by Robert Sheckley
  • Boys, shoot down those fellows who're tearing down the fences.
  • Extract from : « Si Klegg, Book 6 (of 6) » by John McElroy
  • And it was a revolting thing to have to shoot down and stab this handful of heroes.
  • Extract from : « For Fortune and Glory » by Lewis Hough
  • Do you think that we will shoot down our brothers to defend a traitor like you?
  • Extract from : « The Countess of Charny » by Alexandre Dumas (pere)
  • Of course they could not help us, for only one man can shoot down an opponent.
  • Extract from : « The Red Battle Flyer » by Capt. Manfred Freiherr von Richthofen
  • So rapidly did it shoot down that there were cries of alarm from the throng.
  • Extract from : « The Motor Boys in the Clouds » by Clarence Young
  • We will march into the town at once, and shoot down any who oppose us.
  • Extract from : « With Wolseley to Kumasi » by F.S. Brereton
  • You've got a woman to shoot down this time—and that's just half the story!
  • Extract from : « The Executioner » by Frank Riley
  • With my own eyes I have seen them shoot down anybody, and everybody.
  • Extract from : « Dave Dawson at Dunkirk » by Robert Sydney Bowen

Synonyms for shoot down

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019