shotgun

A gun that usually fires many small metal balls at once, often used for hunting.

• He carried a shotgun.
• The farmer kept his shotgun in a locked cabinet.
• They heard a shotgun being fired in the distance.

Common phrases: hunting shotgun, load a shotgun, shotgun cartridge, shotgun pellets

The seat next to the driver in a car.

• I call shotgun!
• She rode shotgun on the way home.
• Who wants the shotgun seat for the trip?

How to use it: ride shotgun (You can ride shotgun while I drive.); call shotgun (I called shotgun before we reached the car.)

Similar words: front passenger seat

Common phrases: ride shotgun, call shotgun, shotgun seat

A narrow, single-floor house with rooms directly behind each other and no hallway.

• They bought a small shotgun house.
• The old shotgun had three rooms in a row.
• Several shotguns on this street have been carefully restored.

Similar words: shotgun house

Common phrases: shotgun house, shotgun home, traditional shotgun

To say that you want something before anyone else can claim it.

• I shotgun the best seat.
• She shotgunned Friday off before anyone else asked.
• Have you already shotgunned the next turn?

How to use it: shotgun something (I shotgunned the window seat as soon as we boarded.)

Similar words: claim, call dibs on

Common phrases: shotgun a seat, shotgun something first, shotgun a turn