exchange of fire
Two-sided shooting
An exchange of fire is a reciprocal shooting incident between opposing sides—soldiers, police, or armed groups firing at each other.
The phrase appears in military and news contexts: Three soldiers were wounded in an exchange of fire near the border.
It implies mutual engagement rather than one-sided shooting.
Armed confrontation or tiebreaker
- crossfireGunfire from several angles
- firefightExchange of gunfire
- bulletsFirearm projectiles
- ammunitionWeapon projectiles and charges
rifles · pistols · snipers · sharpshooters · reloading · marksmanship · cover · barricade
Brief, limited combat
- firefightExchange of gunfire
- engagementCommitment to wed or attend
- salvoSimultaneous weapons discharge
- volleySimultaneous firing burst
crossfire · ambush · assault · barrage · artillery · shelling · flak · mortar
Violent disagreement or collision
- confrontationDirect hostile encounter
- hostilitiesActive armed fighting
- engagementCommitment to wed or attend
- skirmishBrief, limited combat
tension · escalation · provocation · retaliation · resistance · struggle · unrest · turmoil
shootout
Armed confrontation or tiebreaker
ammunition · rifles · pistols · snipers · sharpshooters · reloading · marksmanship · cover · barricade · trigger
skirmish
Brief, limited combat
- firefightExchange of gunfire
- engagementCommitment to wed or attend
- salvoSimultaneous weapons discharge
volley · crossfire · ambush · assault · barrage · artillery · shelling · flak · mortar · strafing
clash
Violent disagreement or collision
- confrontationDirect hostile encounter
- hostilitiesActive armed fighting
- engagementCommitment to wed or attend
skirmish · tension · escalation · provocation · retaliation · resistance · struggle · unrest · turmoil · standoff
exchange of fireambush
Surprise strike from concealment
surprise attack · sneak attack · massacre · assassination · execution
exchange of fireceasefire
Agreed halt to fighting
truce · peace · armistice · détente · disarmament
exchange of fireexchange of vows
Mutual matrimonial promises
handshake · embrace · dialogue · cooperation · trade
exchange, exchanges, exchanged, exchanging, exchangeable, fire, fires, fired, firing