shot one's bolt
Nothing left remaining
To shoot one's bolt is to exhaust one's resources or efforts, leaving nothing in reserve.
The image comes from crossbows—once you've shot your bolt, you're defenseless until you reload.
Someone who has shot their bolt has made their best attempt and has nothing left to try: He shot his bolt in the first round and had no strategy for the finals.
- burned outExhausted from overexertion
- run out of steamLose driving energy
- used upEntirely consumed or expended
- spentExhausted or disbursed
- point of no returnThreshold beyond which reversal impossible
pulled out all the stops · tapped out · drained · maxed out · worn out · hit the wall · thrown in the towel · falling short · come up empty · went the extra mile · left no stone unturned · all in · out of gas · broke the bank · running aground · missing the mark · last gasp
shot one's boltbiding one's time
Patiently awaiting opportunity
fresh as a daisy · raring to go · locked and loaded · second wind · untapped potential
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