Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
to shoot from the hip

to shoot from the hip

6 8.1
To speak or act quickly without thinking carefully
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : hablar sin pensar
  • It's often unwise to shoot from the hip when making important decisions without considering all the information.
  • don't shoot from the hip
  • just shoot from the hip

He's, he's just, he's so he's the one I go to for advice because I know he'll think about it and not just shoot from the hip and he'll just, yeah.

Examples

  • So we're just going to shoot from the hip today, y'all?

  • He's just shooting from the hip.

    The Front Runner (2018)

  • I gotta just shoot from the hip at this point.

    No Witness (2004)

  • You are shooting from the hip.

    Blog text (14)

  • OK, let me shoot from the hip here and make the following grand claim, and then I'll show you how I can prove that claim.

  • But, instead, I'm gonna shoot from the hip.

    Angels in the Outfield (1994)

  • I'm better shooting from the hip anyhow.

    The Swan Princess Christmas (2012)

  • My experience with people who shoot from the hip is that they are self-limited.

    Blog text (30)

  • He always ends up blaming me, saying I shoot from the hip!

    Blog text (25)

  • You're shooting from the hip, Adr.

    Blog text (24)

Synonyms

to blurt out
vsto shoot from the hip
  • Informal
42 3.9

Say something suddenly without thinking

applies to both actions and speech, not only sudden words
to jump the gun
vsto shoot from the hip
  • Informal
29 5.3

To act before the right time, often too soon

stresses acting without thought or planning rather than merely early timing
to shoot one's mouth off
vsto shoot from the hip
  • Informal
5 8.0

To say things carelessly or proudly without thinking about the result

focuses on hasty speech or action rather than a boasting tone
to go off half-cocked
vsto shoot from the hip
  • Informal
4 8.1

To act or speak without thinking first and cause problems

focuses on quick action rather than not being prepared
to shoot first and ask questions later
vsto shoot from the hip
  • Informal
3 8.4

Act quickly without thinking or checking facts

includes quick speech as well as action, not only acting without understanding
to shoot from the lip
vsto shoot from the hip
  • Informal
1 8.9

To speak quickly without thinking and risk upsetting people

does not always offend and applies to acting as well as speaking
to shoot off at the mouth
vsto shoot from the hip
  • Informal
1 9.4

Say things quickly without thinking that may hurt people or make you sorry later

is broader, applying to quick acts or speech without always offending
to shot from the lip
vsto shoot from the hip
  • Informal
9.9

To say something quickly without thinking

applies to acting as well, not only uncensored speech
to blunder out
vsto shoot from the hip
  • Informal
7.4

To say something quickly and carelessly without thinking

also covers quick actions as well as speech, not only clumsy words

Antonyms

to plan
∞ 1.0

To decide and arrange in advance how to do something

to think twice
  • Informal
107 3.6

Carefully consider something before you act to avoid a mistake

How Impulsive

to shoot from the hip
  • Informal
6 8.1
to blurt out
  • Informal
42 3.9

Surface Forms

shoot from the hip infinitive
shooting from the hip present participle
shoots from the hip third person singular
shot from the hip past
shot from the hip past participle

Morphology

shoot + from + the + hip

The phrase extends the literal image of firing a gun from the hip (quick, un-aimed action), so learners who know 'shoot' and 'hip' may get a general sense of rapid, uncareful action. However, the specific figurative meaning 'speak or act without careful thought' is a metaphorical shift and not fully predictable from the parts for an average B1 learner, so it is only partially transparent.

Etymology

The phrase shoot from the hip may come from old gunfights where people would shoot from their hip without aiming so they could act very fast. So it now means 'to speak or act quickly without careful thought'.