a shot across the/someone's bow(s)
idiom
: a warning to not do something or to stop doing something
The fine is a shot across the bow to an industry that thinks it can ignore the law.
Examples of a shot across the/someone's bow(s) in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This road car with racetrack roots emerged as a shot across the bow of Jaguar after its comely E-type was unveiled at the 1961 Geneva Motor show.
—
Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 12 Apr. 2024
The case was a boon to white-collar lawyers and a shot across the bow of international sports.
—Tariq Panja, New York Times, 27 Jan. 2024
China replied with a shot across the bow on rare earths.
—Ben Harburg, Fortune, 18 Sep. 2023
The Supreme Court’s June decision in West Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency was a shot across the bow of the administrative state.
—Bernard S. Sharfman and James R. Copland, WSJ, 14 Sep. 2022
Gazprom blamed the move on the West’s decision to withhold vital turbines because of sanctions, but it was seen by politicians in Europe as a shot across the bow.
—Julia Horowitz, CNN, 11 July 2022
Even his offensive assistants took a shot across the bow.
—Kevin Sherrington, Dallas News, 14 Oct. 2020
This is a shot across the bow to proponents of the climate security frame.
—Keith Kloor, Discover Magazine, 6 Oct. 2011
This is a shot across the bow of the Republican party.
—Keith Kloor, Discover Magazine, 19 Aug. 2011
Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 12 Apr. 2024
The case was a boon to white-collar lawyers and a shot across the bow of international sports.
—Tariq Panja, New York Times, 27 Jan. 2024
China replied with a shot across the bow on rare earths.
—Ben Harburg, Fortune, 18 Sep. 2023
The Supreme Court’s June decision in West Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency was a shot across the bow of the administrative state.
—Bernard S. Sharfman and James R. Copland, WSJ, 14 Sep. 2022
Gazprom blamed the move on the West’s decision to withhold vital turbines because of sanctions, but it was seen by politicians in Europe as a shot across the bow.
—Julia Horowitz, CNN, 11 July 2022
Even his offensive assistants took a shot across the bow.
—Kevin Sherrington, Dallas News, 14 Oct. 2020
This is a shot across the bow to proponents of the climate security frame.
—Keith Kloor, Discover Magazine, 6 Oct. 2011
This is a shot across the bow of the Republican party.
—Keith Kloor, Discover Magazine, 19 Aug. 2011
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'a shot across the/someone's bow(s).' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“A shot across the/someone's bow(s).” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/a%20shot%20across%20the%2Fsomeone%27s%20bow%28s%29. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
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