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Phoebe Anne Oakley Moses (1860-1926) starred in Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, where she astonished the crowds with feats of marksmanship such as shooting the spots out of playing cards. It wasn't long until her audience noticed that the shot-out card looked like a ticket that had been punched by a train conductor. By 1910, the name "Annie Oakley" was not only synonymous with sharp-shooting but with the ticket-playing card connection, and complimentary tickets have been "Annie Oakleys" ever since.
Examples of Annie Oakley in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Kay learned to work the bolt and get into shooting position faster than Annie Oakley ever dreamed possible.
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Robert V. Broadbent, Outdoor Life, 12 Feb. 2026
The Annie Oakley Where: Bones' Burgers, 9721 Montgomery Road, Montgomery.
—Bebe Hodges, Cincinnati Enquirer, 8 Jan. 2026
The last-minute Annie Oakley act does not alter that one whit.
—The Editors, National Review, 30 Sep. 2024
To fully embrace cowboy culture, book a stay at Sheridan Inn, a historic property with rooms named after Buffalo Bill and some of the major characters in his life — including Annie Oakley, Teddy Roosevelt, and the Rough Riders.
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 12 Aug. 2024
Cincinnati women in entertainment Annie Oakley: The famous sharpshooter from Darke County made her legendary debut in a shooting contest against her future husband, Frank Butler, in Cincinnati.
—Jeff Suess, The Enquirer, 10 Mar. 2024
Kelly’s beloved dog, an elderly, Pomeranian-long haired Chihuahua mix named Annie Oakley, bounded down the carpeted staircase and wriggled across the linoleum kitchen floor, wagging her tail for attention.
—Lea Skene, Anchorage Daily News, 12 June 2023
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Robert V. Broadbent, Outdoor Life, 12 Feb. 2026
The Annie Oakley Where: Bones' Burgers, 9721 Montgomery Road, Montgomery.
—Bebe Hodges, Cincinnati Enquirer, 8 Jan. 2026
The last-minute Annie Oakley act does not alter that one whit.
—The Editors, National Review, 30 Sep. 2024
To fully embrace cowboy culture, book a stay at Sheridan Inn, a historic property with rooms named after Buffalo Bill and some of the major characters in his life — including Annie Oakley, Teddy Roosevelt, and the Rough Riders.
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 12 Aug. 2024
Cincinnati women in entertainment Annie Oakley: The famous sharpshooter from Darke County made her legendary debut in a shooting contest against her future husband, Frank Butler, in Cincinnati.
—Jeff Suess, The Enquirer, 10 Mar. 2024
Kelly’s beloved dog, an elderly, Pomeranian-long haired Chihuahua mix named Annie Oakley, bounded down the carpeted staircase and wriggled across the linoleum kitchen floor, wagging her tail for attention.
—Lea Skene, Anchorage Daily News, 12 June 2023
Cite this Entry
“Annie Oakley.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Annie%20Oakley. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
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