Dictionary

shot across the bow en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio
• /ˈʃɒt əˌkɹɒs ðə ˈbaʊ/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (General-American) audio
• /ˈʃɑt əˌkɹɔs ðə ˈbaʊ/ (General-American)

Etymology

From the naval tactic of firing a warning shot across the bow or front portion of a ship in order to force it to stop or alter its course.

Meanings

1. (idiomatic) A warning that negative consequences will be faced if something is carried out or allowed to continue.
   • 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. 1979, P[eter] B[rian] Medawar, “What Shall I Do Research on?”, in Advice to a Young Scientist (Alfred P. Sloan Foundation series), New York, N.Y.: Basic Books, →ISBN, pages 13–14:
   • 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. 2000, William B. Gould IV, “Congress Instructs the NLRB”, in Labored Relations: Law, Politics, and the NLRB—A Memoir, Cambridge, Mass.; London: MIT Press, →ISBN; 1st paperback edition, Cambridge, Mass.; London: MIT Press, 2001, →ISBN, pages 167–168:
   • 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. 2007, Jeffrey Toobin, “To the Brink”, in The Nine: Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court, New York, N.Y.: Doubleday, →ISBN; 1st Anchor Books edition, New York, N.Y.: Anchor Books, September 2008, →ISBN, page 180:
   • 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. 1994 August 17, Tom Clancy, Debt of Honor, New York, N.Y.: G[eorge] P[almer] Putnam’s Sons, →ISBN; republished as Debt of Honor, New York, N.Y.: Berkley Books, 2014, →ISBN:
   • 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. 2001 July 10, John Conyers Jr., “Amendment to H.R. 2215 Offered by Mr. Conyers”, in 21st Century Department of Justice Appropriations Authorization Act: … Report together with Additional Views: […] (House of Representatives, 107th Congress, 1st Session, Report; 107-125), [Washington, D.C.: United States Government Printing Office], →OCLC, page 107:
   • President [Franklin] Pierce, like a great war ship, fired two shots across the bows of the Congress, to bring matters to. 1856 March, “Monthly Summary. [United States.]”, in George R[ex] Graham, editor, Graham’s American Monthly Magazine of Literature and Art, volume XLVIII, number 3, Philadelphia, Pa.: George R. Graham, […], →OCLC, page 267, column 1:
   • This is often used as a "shot across the bow," warning the borrower how seriously the lender views the default. 2007, David Geltner, Norman G. Miller, Jim Clayton, Piet Eicholtz, Commercial Real Estate Analysis & Investments, 2nd edition, Mason, Oh.: Cengage Learning, →ISBN, page 397:
   • 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. 1992, H[erbert] L[ionel] A[dolphus] Hart, “Postscript”, in The Concept of Law, 3rd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, published 2012, →ISBN, pages 238–239:
   • 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. 2013, Lucinda Riley, chapter 28, in The Midnight Rose, London: Macmillan, →ISBN; republished London: Pan Books, 2014, →ISBN, page 379:
   • 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. 2008, Chris Lauer et al., The Management Gurus: Lessons from the Best Management Books of All Time (Soundview Executive Book Summaries), New York, N.Y.: Portfolio, →ISBN:

Forms

Synonyms

warning shot

Translations (7)

bg предупредителна мярка (warning that negative consequences will be faced) · nn advarsel (warning that negative consequences will be faced) · nb skudd for baugen (warning that negative consequences will be faced) · nb advarsel (warning that negative consequences will be faced) · ru предупреди́тельный вы́стрел (warning that negative consequences will be faced) · fi varoituslaukaus (warning that negative consequences will be faced) · de Schuss vor den Bug (warning that negative consequences will be faced)