shoot down
To make a plane fall by shooting it, or to say 'no' strongly to an idea
Meanings
To destroy or disable an aircraft by firing weapons at it
"The enemy plane was shot down over the ocean before it reached the coast."
"They shot down a plane carrying the Polish president."
— Common news phrasing referencing the 2010 Smolensk air disaster
To decisively reject or dismiss an idea, proposal, or argument
"Every suggestion she made in the meeting was shot down by the director."
To shoot and kill or seriously injure a person
"The security guard was shot down in the street outside the bank."
The literal sense (aircraft) is used in military and news contexts. The figurative sense (rejecting ideas) is extremely common in business, academic, and everyday conversation. The figurative sense is separable: 'shoot the idea down' or 'shoot down the idea'.
Commonly used with
Forms
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