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Glite Dictionary
to shoot holes in

to shoot holes in

1 7.2
To find and point out weak points in an idea, plan or argument
  • phrasal verb
  • Informal
translation icon : destruir
  • Please shoot holes in this idea, add things you think could be accomplished by this mechanism, etc.

Examples

  • To make the argument stronger, it's important to shoot holes in any weaknesses before presenting it to the board.

  • Before finalizing your essay, ask a friend to shoot holes in your thesis to identify any potential flaws.

  • Or shot holes in it.

    Blue Ruin (2014)

  • So let me give you the scenario that records and I see coming and you can shoot holes in it, OK?

  • During the meeting, she encouraged everyone to shoot holes in the proposal to ensure its strengths and weaknesses were clear.

Synonyms

to criticize
vsto shoot holes in
701 3.3

To say what is wrong with someone or something

aims specifically to expose serious flaws in arguments or proposals
to tear apart
vsto shoot holes in
  • Informal
21 5.6

To criticize someone or something harshly

uses focused criticism to reveal serious argument or proposal weaknesses
to find fault
vsto shoot holes in
15 4.4

To say something is wrong or not good, often about small things

targets serious weaknesses in arguments or proposals rather than petty complaints
to pick apart
vsto shoot holes in
  • Informal
14 5.2

To find faults in ideas or work by pointing out small problems

focuses more on finding serious faults and exposing argument weaknesses
to poke holes in
vsto shoot holes in
  • Informal
5 4.3

To find and show weak points in an idea or plan

aims to reveal serious flaws and criticize effectively to discredit ideas
to lay into
vsto shoot holes in
  • Informal
3 7.2

Use angry words to criticize someone strongly

focuses on showing specific serious flaws, not only emotional attack
to hit out at
vsto shoot holes in
  • UK
1 6.7

To criticize someone or something strongly in public

aims to expose weaknesses in arguments or proposals rather than public attack

Antonyms

to defend
691 2.8

To speak up to support a person or idea when others criticize it

to support
572 2.1

Give facts or evidence that show a claim is true

How Critical

to tear apart
  • Informal
21 5.6
to shoot holes in
  • Informal
1 7.2
to pick apart
  • Informal
14 5.2
to find fault
15 4.4
to criticize
701 3.3
to point out
∞ 1.8

Surface Forms

shoot holes in infinitive
shooting holes in present participle
shoots holes in third person singular
shot holes in past
shot holes in past participle

Morphology

shoot + hole + in

The expression uses a clear physical-to-abstract metaphor: 'shoot' (make by firing) + 'hole' (a gap or flaw) + 'in' (inside something) together suggest creating or exposing weaknesses in an argument, so a learner who knows the constituent meanings can often infer the intended sense. However, it is a metaphorical collocation that relies on recognizing 'hole' as a figurative gap and the conventional pairing 'shoot holes in X', so the mapping is not fully literal or completely predictable for all B1 learners.

Etymology

The phrasal verb shoot holes in comes from the simple picture of someone firing a gun and making holes in a paper target, where each hole makes the target weaker. So, to shoot holes in an idea means 'to find and show its serious faults'.