covering fire
Protective shooting support
Covering fire is gunfire directed at an enemy to protect friendly forces while they move, advance, or retreat.
The goal is suppression rather than accuracy—keeping opponents pinned down or distracted so they can't effectively shoot back.
Lay down some covering fire while we cross the street.
The term extends figuratively to any diversionary support that lets someone accomplish something under pressure.
- suppressingForcibly restraining or inhibiting
- machine gunContinuous-fire arm
- strafingAerial gunfire at ground
- smoke screenDeceptive concealment tactic
- barrageSustained, overwhelming attack
danger close · overwatch · pinned down · combat · artillery · engagement · kill zone · salvo · advance guard · battlefield · volley · rear guard · skirmish line · perimeter defense · holding action · flanking maneuver · ambush tactics · moving target
- combat supportair support, close air support, ground support, artillery support, medevac
- combat tacticsflanking, ambush, feint, skirmish, firefight
- gunfireshoot, gunshot, gunfire, blast, report
- military tacticstactics, flanking, maneuver, ambush, battle formations
- naval gunnerynaval gun, cannons, gunnery drills, guns, naval guns
- gaming tacticsflanking, positioning, baiting, rushing, turtling
covering firedirect fire
Shooting at seen targets
kill shot · precision strike · sniper fire · assassination attempt · headhunting
cover, covering, fire, covers, covered, uncover, uncovered, uncovering, discover