Meaning of draw fire | Babel Free

Definitions

1. In an armed encounter, to attract gunfire from an adversary, whether unintentionally or deliberately for the purpose of allowing one's allies or colleagues to gain a tactical advantage over the adversary.
   also, figuratively
2. To create a distraction that allows one's friends, co-workers, or other associates to gain an advantage over the distracted party.
   broadly, idiomatic
3. To attract criticism or an angry reaction.
   broadly, idiomatic

Examples

“"If you find only a handful of men there, drive them off; if they are in force, get near enough to draw their fire and find out their strength."”

“But the latest Santa Fe development, while not spurring the Rock Island to any further acceleration, has drawn fire from a totally unexpected quarter.”

“Sometimes troops go into insurgent areas for the principal purpose of drawing their fire—so the Americans can shoot back and capture or kill them.”

“[T]he Navy Seals drew fire from only one al-Qaida gunman and quickly killed him.”

“By-the-way, you've never had much talk with Miss Woodburn, have you, March?" "Not so much as with Miss Woodburn's father." "Well, he is rather apt to scoop the conversation. I must draw his fire, sometime, when you and Mrs. March are around, and get you a chance with Miss Woodburn."”

“The Compugraphics Corporation, a company that once drew fire for its income‐augmenting accounting practices, is making an impression in Wall Street these days with a solid record of quality earnings gains.”

“An Irish writer living in Devon, Trevor is alert to the quirks of people on both sides of the Irish Sea […] Bullies and bigots of every stripe draw his fire.”

“CBS television President Les Moonves has been the man in the hot seat. After a conservative outcry, he abruptly canceled a mini-series about Ronald Reagan, only to draw fire from liberals complaining that he caved in to pressure.”

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