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parting shot

noun

a threat, insult, condemnation, sarcastic retort, or the like, uttered upon leaving.

parting shot

noun

a hostile remark or gesture delivered while departing Also calledParthian shot

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Word History and Origins

Origin of parting shot¹

First recorded in 1890–95; perhaps by folk etymology from Parthian shot

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Idioms and Phrases

A final insult or last word in an argument, as in As she stalked out, Jane hurled as a parting shot , “ And I quit! ” This idiom apparently originated as a corruption of Parthian shot , referring to the practice of ancient Parthian warriors of turning back to shoot at their pursuers. [Late 1800s]

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Mills’ parting shot to Trump: “We’ll see you in court.”

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“It’s my parting shot,” she said.

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And the judge's parting shot carried, perhaps, just a hint of exasperation.

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Penn State was just getting started even if the Bruins did deliver a parting shot with Martin’s late touchdown pass.

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However, the Huskies haven’t been elite in a long time and Saturday’s 91-75 defeat — UW’s eighth straight loss to Arizona — was one last parting shot from the Wildcats before they head to the Big 12 next season.

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Related Words

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

parting of the ways parting strip

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