pot shot
Casual verbal jab
A pot shot is a shot taken at an easy or random target, originally referring to hunting game for the cooking pot rather than for sport—shooting without skill or fair chase.
The meaning extends to any opportunistic attack or criticism: The senator took pot shots at her opponent's record.
Taking pot shots suggests cheap or unfair targeting rather than substantive engagement.
Quick, straight blow
- digUnearth by shoveling
- swipeQuick sliding motion
- snipeHidden-position shooting
- barbBackward-pointing spike
cheap shot · attack · slam · knock · put-down · gibe · taunt · jeer
Having no direction
- haphazardLacking organization or plan
- unaimedWithout deliberate targeting
- offhandCasually unrehearsed
- casualRelaxed and informal
chance · snap shot · blind shot · speculative · opportunistic · impromptu · spontaneous · indiscriminate
Defenseless person or thing
- easy targetVulnerable person or thing
- vulnerableOpen to attack
- exposedOut in open
- defenselessWithout means to resist
unprotected · prey · open · susceptible · unguarded · helpless · wide open · fair game
jab
Quick, straight blow
barb · cheap shot · attack · slam · knock · put-down · gibe · taunt · jeer · broadside
aimless
Having no direction
casual · chance · snap shot · blind shot · speculative · opportunistic · impromptu · spontaneous · indiscriminate · scattershot
sitting duck
Defenseless person or thing
- easy targetVulnerable person or thing
- vulnerableOpen to attack
- exposedOut in open
defenseless · unprotected · prey · open · susceptible · unguarded · helpless · wide open · fair game · unmissable
- combat idiomsstab in the back, dodge a bullet, in the crosshairs, fire away, take a shot
- shotsgunshot, B-52, Jagerbomb, Kamikaze, lemon drop