over-the-shoulder bombing
- noun
- Specialized
- During the mission, the aircraft performed an over-the-shoulder bombing maneuver to strike the heavily defended site.
Examples
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The pilots were trained in over-the-shoulder bombing to avoid flying directly over the target.
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Experts demonstrated over-the-shoulder bombing at the air show, impressing the crowd with its precision.
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The pilot executed an over-the-shoulder bombing maneuver flawlessly.
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Have you ever seen an over-the-shoulder bombing in action?
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The pilots were trained in over-the-shoulder bombing to strike targets while minimizing risk to their aircraft.
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During the military exercise, the aircraft showcased over-the-shoulder bombing techniques that demonstrated its tactical advantage.
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Experts discussed the effectiveness of over-the-shoulder bombing in modern warfare during the defense seminar.
Synonyms
A way of dropping a bomb by flying low, pulling up, and releasing it so it flies farther
A way of dropping bombs by flying low then pulling the plane up before release to escape the blast
Surface Forms
Morphology
over-the-shoulder + bomb
The phrase transparently combines the spatial phrase 'over the shoulder' with 'bombing', so a B1 learner who knows the constituents will grasp it refers to a bombing maneuver performed over/behind the shoulder and will infer a general backward/over-the-shoulder direction. However, the precise technical detail in the definition (release after passing vertical flight producing a backward trajectory) is specialized and not fully predictable from the parts, so full meaning requires prior exposure.
Etymology
Over-the-shoulder bombing comes from the strong image of a plane flying past a target and then dropping a bomb so it flies 'back' over the plane's shoulder toward the target, like tossing something over your own shoulder. That's why it means a bombing move where the bomb is released after passing the target so it hits behind or near it.