like a shot
4
6.0
- idiom
- Informal
:
como un rayo
- The kid takes off like a shot.
- took off like a shot
- went down like a shot
Examples
-
And in about 30 seconds she'd know and she'd be gone like a shot.
-
I sat up like a shot and saw my father running across the field.
Fiction book (1993) -
So Christmas morning, I was up like a shot, boy, under that tree.
-
He'll be through the airport like a shot, I thought.
Fiction book (2000) -
Hey, this guy just took off like a shot.
Fiction book (1990) -
Clark jumped to his feet like a shot.
Fiction book (1999) -
Burnett's out of bed like a shot and headed for the living room.
Fiction book (1995) -
If the CIA made me an offer, I'd be off like a shot.
-
If it weren't for my duties in India, I'd be over there like a shot.
-
The dog heard the loud noise and ran away like a shot.
Synonyms
∞
1.0
At this exact moment or right away
∞
1.0
At a fast speed or without delay
∞
1.0
Quickly and without warning
∞
1.0
At once without waiting
987
2.7
Very quickly and without warning
960
1.0
Without any delay
446
1.4
In a very short time
344
1.0
Immediately without delay
330
1.0
Right away without any delay
163
1.0
Do something at once without delay
145
3.3
In a sudden way that gives no warning
84
1.0
Quickly and smoothly
50
3.2
Right away without any hesitation
50
3.3
Very quickly, in almost no time
35
2.5
Very quickly in a single moment
27
3.7
Very quickly and without delay
15
7.3
Without any delay, right away
13
3.5
Very quickly without delay
13
4.2
Immediately and without delay
13
3.0
Happening suddenly and without warning
11
7.3
In a quick and efficient way
8
3.0
Immediately without delay
7
3.2
Without delay after something happens
6
2.4
To act quickly without delay
3
5.5
To act immediately and confidently without pausing
3
3.0
It happens very quickly with little effort
1
3.5
Very quickly, in an instant
1
2.0
Happen very fast
Immediately without any delay
Happens very quickly
Very quickly, in almost no time
In a very short time
Antonyms
How Fast
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'immediately; very quickly' is directly inferable from 'like' (showing similarity) plus 'a shot' (evoking a fast projectile), so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words can deduce the simile. This is a common cross-linguistic simile pattern comparing speed to something shot, so the expression is compositionally transparent.
Etymology
Like a shot may come from shooting with a bow or a gun, where an arrow or bullet flies straight and very fast. So, when something happens like a shot, it happens 'immediately' or 'very quickly', as if it were fired.