shoot from the hip
Meaning
To speak or act quickly without careful thought or preparation; to respond impulsively.
Origin
From firearm practice: firing a gun without aiming down the sights, from the hip. The metaphor shifted to making snap judgments or remarks without deliberation.
Notes
Often implies recklessness or lack of filtering; commonly used to criticize an unprepared or impulsive comment/decision.
Examples
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He tends to shoot from the hip in meetings, which sometimes leads to confusion.
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I was nervous during the interview and ended up shooting from the hip instead of giving a prepared answer.
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Don’t shoot from the hip on this decision—let’s look at the data first.
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She shot from the hip and accused him without checking the facts.
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As a commentator, he often shoots from the hip, but occasionally he’s surprisingly accurate.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Fixed phrase used with verbs like "shoot from the hip" (base) and "shot from the hip" (past). Often appears as an infinitive/gerund: "to shoot from the hip," "shooting from the hip." Can modify a noun: "a shoot-from-the-hip comment."
Synonyms
- speak off the cuff
- shoot from the lip
- act on impulse
- wing it
Antonyms
- think it through
- be measured
- weigh your words
- act deliberately