shoot from the hip
Speak without planning
To shoot from the hip is to speak or act impulsively, without careful thought or preparation.
The phrase comes from firing a gun without raising it to aim—quick but inaccurate.
Someone who shoots from the hip says what comes to mind without filtering: He tends to shoot from the hip in interviews, which gets him in trouble.
The style can seem refreshingly direct or recklessly careless.
Unplanned, unrehearsed
- ad-libUnscripted speech or remark
- extemporizeSpeak without preparation
- unrehearsedNot practiced beforehand
- unscriptedNot pre-written
unprepared · spur-of-the-moment · impromptu · on-the-fly · freestyle · unpolished · seat-of-the-pants
Carelessly ignoring danger
- hastyExcessively quick, ill-considered
- rashHeedless or skin irritation
- knee-jerkInstinctive and unconsidered
- unthinkingLacking conscious thought
brash · hot-headed · impetuous · careless · reactive · reflexive · instinctive · visceral
Dull or tactlessly direct
- frankOpen and direct
- forthrightDirectly honest in manner
- directUndeviating or to guide
- unfilteredNot passed through screen
plain-spoken · unvarnished · honest · straightforward · transparent · outspoken · no-nonsense · matter-of-fact
off-the-cuff
Unplanned, unrehearsed
- ad-libUnscripted speech or remark
- extemporizeSpeak without preparation
- unrehearsedNot practiced beforehand
unscripted · unprepared · spur-of-the-moment · impromptu · on-the-fly · freestyle · unpolished · seat-of-the-pants
reckless
Carelessly ignoring danger
- hastyExcessively quick, ill-considered
- rashHeedless or skin irritation
- knee-jerkInstinctive and unconsidered
unthinking · brash · hot-headed · impetuous · careless · reactive · reflexive · instinctive · visceral · quick-draw
blunt
Dull or tactlessly direct
- frankOpen and direct
- forthrightDirectly honest in manner
- directUndeviating or to guide
unfiltered · plain-spoken · unvarnished · honest · straightforward · transparent · outspoken · no-nonsense · matter-of-fact · undiplomatic
- Wild Westcowboy, howdy, sheriff, giddyup, lawmen
- expressions for speaking rashlyfoot in mouth, speak too soon, blurt out, speak out of turn, let slip
- impulsive actionsspur of the moment, on a whim, snap decision, knee-jerk reaction, rush in
- risk phrasestake a chance, take a gamble, risk it all, go for broke, roll the dice
shoot from the hipuse one's head
Think things through
deliberate · sleep on it · calculate · mull it over · strategize
shoot from the hipsugarcoat
Make something seem pleasanter
beat around the bush · hedge · pull one's punches · equivocate
shoot from the hipplay it safe
Avoid unnecessary chances
tread carefully · err on the side of caution · hedge one's bets · hold one's tongue · bite one's tongue