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 If the aim was to fire a shot across the bow of U.S. trading partners, the tariffs worked. —

Chad P. Bown, Foreign Affairs, 12 Aug. 2019 Their brief is also a shot across the bow on Capitol Hill. —

Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 22 June 2024 This is clearly a shot across the bow of Qualcomm, which has been touting its high TOPS measures in Snapdragon X, as well. —

Matthew Buzzi, PCMAG, 20 May 2024 The right-wing has been aiming for fetal personhood for a long time, and this ruling may be a shot across the bow from that cause. —

Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 24 Feb. 2024 See all Example Sentences for a shot across the/someone's bow(s)

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.

Dictionary Entries Near a shot across the/someone's bow(s)

ashore

a shot across the/someone's bow(s)

a shoulder to cry on

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“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 26 Jul. 2024.

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