a parting shot
Meaning: A final sharp remark made while leaving.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Example: “As she left, her parting shot was "Good luck finding someone else."”
Category: Daily Life
Origin: Probably an alteration of "Parthian shot": Parthian horse archers would pretend to flee and shoot back at their pursuers. The form "parting shot" is found from the 19th century.
Equivalents in other languages
- French: La flèche du Parthe — literally: The Parthian shot
More idioms — Daily Life
- set the record straight — To correct a mistaken account or misunderstanding.
- a damp squib — Something expected to be impressive that turns out a disappointment.
- no contest — Said when one side is clearly better and there is no real competition.
- don't shoot the messenger — Don't blame the person who brings bad news.
- as old as Methuselah — Extremely old.
- ugly as sin — Very ugly.
More English idioms
- grease someone's palm — To bribe someone.
- slow and steady wins the race — Patience and persistence succeed better than haste.
- go by shanks' mare — To walk; to travel on foot.
- like a duck to water — Naturally and easily, as if born to it.
- kill the goose that lays the golden eggs — To destroy a source of profit out of greed.
- with one's tail between one's legs — Humiliated and defeated.
From our tongue twisters
- Betty Botter bought some butter, but she said the butter's bitter. — A 'b / t / tt' plosive drill that bounces between Betty, butter, and bitter.
- She sells seashells by the seashore. — The definitive 's' versus 'sh' alternation — the tongue has to switch place of articulati…
- Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers. — A relentless 'p' plosive drill; a peck is an old dry measure of about nine litres.