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shooting brake

shooting brake

8.4
A car with a long back and a rear door used to carry people and things
  • noun
  • /ˈʃuːtɪŋ breɪk/
  • UK
translation icon : shooting brake
  • He bought a vintage shooting brake to carry all their outdoor gear for family vacations.

Examples

  • Many European carmakers now offer stylish shooting brakes based on their sports models.

  • The new shooting brake offers plenty of space for gear.

  • He bought a vintage shooting brake for road trips with the family.

  • The classic Aston Martin shooting brake was a rare and luxurious vehicle.

  • Do you prefer a shooting brake or a traditional sedan?

  • The sleek design of the new shooting brake makes it perfect for both style and utility.

  • After considering their options, they decided a shooting brake was ideal for transporting equestrian equipment.

How Spacious

van
676 1.0
station wagon
  • US
66 2.9
shooting brake
  • UK
8.4
sedan
  • US
77 2.4
coupe
32 5.3

Surface Forms

Morphology

shooting + brake

The car sense of 'shooting brake' is a historical, specialized term (originally a carriage for shooting parties) and cannot be derived from the modern literal meanings 'shooting' (discharge of a gun) and 'brake' (a stopping device). A B1 learner who knows the constituents would not predict a type of car from those words, so the expression is idiomatic and unpredictable.

Etymology

The noun shooting brake comes from old hunting trips. A brake was a kind of wagon used to carry people and guns for shooting parties, so the name later described a car with extra rear space to carry people and equipment.