rapid fire
Bursts without pause
Rapid fire originally describes gunfire discharged in quick succession, as from an automatic weapon.
The term extends to anything delivered at high speed without pause: rapid-fire questions, rapid-fire dialogue.
A rapid-fire style suggests relentless, staccato delivery that gives the recipient little time to respond.
Weapon projectiles and charges
- shootoutArmed confrontation or tiebreaker
- revolverPistol with rotating chamber
- pistolCompact one-handed firearm
- rifleLong-barreled shoulder weapon
machine gun · bullet · magazine · cartridge · trigger · holster · barrel · caliber
Sustained projectile assault
- onslaughtFierce, overwhelming assault
- flurryBrief burst of activity
- hailIcy precipitation pellets
- volleySimultaneous firing burst
salvo · fusillade · blitz · assault · torrent · deluge · cascade · storm
Formal, probing examination
- cross-examinationOpposing party questions witness
- grillingCooking on metal grates
- drillingHole-making by rotation
- barrageSustained, overwhelming attack
volley · quiz · interview · hot seat · probing · pressing · inquisition · challenge
Short, separated note style
- patterQuick rehearsed speech
- spielPersuasive extended talk
- chatterLight, rapid speech
- motormouthNonstop rapid talker
auctioneer · breathless · clipped · banter · repartee · quips · one-liners
Moving with speed
- fastSpeedy, or skip eating
- speedyCharacterized by quickness
- successiveFollowing without interruption
- continuousWithout pause or gap
relentless · nonstop · back-to-back · breakneck · frenetic · whirlwind · lightning · blistering
ammunition
Weapon projectiles and charges
- shootoutArmed confrontation or tiebreaker
- revolverPistol with rotating chamber
- pistolCompact one-handed firearm
rifle · machine gun · bullet · magazine · cartridge · trigger · holster · barrel · caliber · marksman
bombardment
Sustained projectile assault
volley · salvo · fusillade · blitz · assault · torrent · deluge · cascade · storm · avalanche
interrogation
Formal, probing examination
- cross-examinationOpposing party questions witness
- grillingCooking on metal grates
- drillingHole-making by rotation
barrage · volley · quiz · interview · hot seat · probing · pressing · inquisition · challenge · rebuttal
staccato
Short, separated note style
motormouth · auctioneer · breathless · clipped · banter · repartee · quips · one-liners
quick
Moving with speed
- fastSpeedy, or skip eating
- speedyCharacterized by quickness
- successiveFollowing without interruption
continuous · relentless · nonstop · back-to-back · breakneck · frenetic · whirlwind · lightning · blistering · furious
- woodpecker soundsdrumming, pecking, tapping, drilling, rapping
- Point Defenseanti-missile, missile defense, Iron Dome, Gatling gun, radar tracking
- fire idiomsfan the flames, spread like wildfire, go up in flames, go up in smoke, up in smoke
- power-upsboost, buff, extra life, invincibility, power boost
- Quizzesquiz, pop quiz, quiz show, quiz night, quiz bowl
- Speed Expressionsin a flash, quick as a flash, in no time, lickety-split, lickety split
rapid firedeliberate
Consciously chosen, not accidental
measured · careful · considered · thoughtful · methodical
rapid firesporadic
Occurring irregularly, infrequently
intermittent · occasional · infrequent · scattered · isolated
fire, fired, rapid, firing, fires, firearm, rapids, fireball, firebrand