Words Matter
We speak casually about dodging a bullet… shooting the breeze… taking aim and smoking guns. The language of gun violence is pervasive in our culture.But it doesn’t need to be that way. We can be conscious of the phrases and metaphors from our vocabulary and begin to change the conversation about gun violence one word at a time.
Download a pdf print file of the Gun Thesaurus
| Gun Term | Alternative |
|---|---|
| A | |
| ammunition | facts, evidence |
| armed with the facts | well-informed |
| aim for | hope to achieve, strive |
| ask point blank | ask directly |
| B | |
| bite the bullet | just do it |
| bullet-points | specifics, key points |
| bullet-proof | invincible |
| bull’s eye | exact spot |
| C | |
| caught in the crossfire | caught in the middle |
| cheap shot | unfair criticism, low blow |
| D | |
| dodged a bullet | avoided trouble |
| don’t shoot the messenger | not responsible |
| E | |
| even shot | 50/50 chance |
| F | |
| faster than a speeding bullet | high speed |
| ‘Fire Away!’ | ‘Get Started!’ |
| firing blanks | ineffective, not succeeding |
| fire back | responding quickly |
| G | |
| get shot | get vaccinated |
| going great guns | exceeding expectations |
| gun it | speed up |
| gun shy | reticent, hesitant |
| gunning for someone | planning to harm |
| H | |
| half-cocked | reckless |
| high caliber | exceptional, first-rate |
| hired gun | paid specialist |
| held a gun to my head | threatened |
| hot shot | show-off, braggart |
| I | |
| in the crosshairs | scrutinized |
| J | |
| jumped the gun | started too early |
| ‘Just shoot me!’ | ‘I give up!’ |
| K | |
| kill joy | spoil sport, cynic |
| killer instinct | ruthless, relentless |
| L | |
| like shooting fish in a barrel | too easy |
| lock, stock and barrel | all inclusive, entirely |
| locked-and-loaded | ready, prepared |
| M | |
| magic bullet | perfect solution |
| misfired | erred |
| missed the mark | imperfect, fell short |
| moving target | hard to pin down |
| O | |
| outgunned | outmatched |
| on target | accurate, so far/so good |
| P | |
| point blank | direct, precise |
| point & shoot | simple |
| pot shots | jabs |
| pull the trigger | get going, start |
| Q | |
| quick on the trigger | rash, hasty |
| R | |
| rapid fire | quickly, speedy |
| ‘Ready, aim, fire!’ | ‘Go!’ |
| riding shot gun | protecting a companion |
| rifle through files | search |
| S | |
| ‘She/he is a pistol!’ | ‘She/he has spunk!’ |
| shoot first, ask later | impetuous |
| shoot for | try, attempt |
| shoot for the moon | set high goals |
| shoot from the hip | impulsive |
| shoot me an email | send me an email |
| shoot off your mouth | talk recklessly |
| shoot out | confrontation |
| shoot the breeze | chat, visit |
| shot down my idea | rejected |
| shot in the dark | wild guess |
| shot myself in the foot | made a mistake |
| silver bullet | perfect solution |
| smoking gun | proof beyond doubt |
| ‘Son of a gun!’ | ‘Darn!’ |
| stick to my guns | uncompromising |
| straight shooter | frank & honest |
| sweating bullets | nervous, worried |
| T | |
| take aim | focus |
| take a shot at | speculate, try |
| target market | intended audience |
| top gun | recognized expert |
| trigger a response | cause a reaction |
| trigger alerts | heads up, warnings |
| trigger happy | impulsive, foolhardy |
| trip your trigger | make you happy |
| U | |
| under fire | being criticized |
| under the gun | feeling pressure |
| V | |
| W | |
| whole shooting match | in total, the works |
| with guns blazing | all-out effort |
| worth a shot | worth trying |
| X | |
| Y | |
| ‘You’re killing me!’ | ‘You’re too much!’ |
| Z |