cheap shot

noun

1

: an act of deliberate roughness against a defenseless opponent especially in a contact sport

taking cheap shots at the quarterback

2

: a critical statement that takes unfair advantage of a known weakness of the target

cheap-shot

ˈchēp-ˌshät 

transitive verb

Examples of cheap shot in a Sentence

He took a cheap shot at the quarterback.

a cheap shot to the back of the head

The remark about his weight was a cheap shot.

Recent Examples on the Web

At first Zeke seems the very embodiment of older generations’ complaints about GenZ ennui, but Rice isn’t taking cheap shots — not least since since his elders-but-not-wisers get no more flattering a portrait once George (Camp) enters the scene. —Guy Lodge, Variety, 19 June 2026

Instead, Nemeth took his cheap shot at the end of the night but already agreed to the match for Slammiversary. —Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 15 June 2026

The toughness — and some cheap shots — have been on display through Games 1-3 in the NBA Finals. —Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 10 June 2026

Back in, Cargill and Michin took out their opponents with a pair of cheap shots, and Michin took control of the bout. —Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 24 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1903, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for cheap shot

• allot
• barat
• begot
• besought
• bethought
• bloodshot
• boycott
• buckshot
• crackpot
• croat
• culottes
• dashpot