Meaning of shot across the bow | Babel Free

Definitions

A warning that negative consequences will be faced if something is carried out or allowed to continue.

idiomatic

Equivalents

Examples

“President [Franklin] Pierce, like a great war ship, fired two shots across the bows of the Congress, to bring matters to.”

“Scientists considered collectively are remarkably single-minded in their views about what is important and what is not. If a graduate student gives a seminar and no one comes or no one asks a question, it is very sad, but not so sad as the question gallantly put by a senior or a colleague that betrays that he hasn't listened to a word. But it is a warning sign, a shot across the bows.”

“Though I have fired a few shots across the bows of some of my critics, notably the late Professor Lon Fuller and Professor R[onald] M[yles] Dworkin, I have hitherto made no general comprehensive reply to any of them; I have preferred to watch and learn from a most instructive running debate in which some of the critics have differed from others as much as they have differed from me.”

“That part of the release wouldn't so much be a warning shot across the bow as one aimed right at the bridge, Kealty thought.”

“In fact, many members of Congress sought to influence or halt decision making altogether—firing shots across the bow designed to intimidate the adjudicators before a decision could be made. This sort of interference was and is entirely inconsistent with the rule of law.”

“While I'm persuaded by the Chairman's bona fides in this area, I think this is a shot across the bow. I'm sure the Attorney General and his representatives can discern what import and I hope the sentiment of the full Committee are.”

“This is often used as a "shot across the bow," warning the borrower how seriously the lender views the default.”

“This was a shot across the bow of the Florida justices, a warning against further activism in this case, but one with relatively little practical significance at this late date.”

“Before punishing, place a shot across the bow—provide a clear warning to let people know exactly what negative things will happen should they continue down their current path, but don't actually administer discipline yet.”

“Perhaps her refusal to marry him would be the shot across the bows Jack needed to help him face his demons. But somehow she doubted it.”

CEFR level