Meaning

"Shoot" as a reaction is a mild, polite way to show annoyance when something small goes wrong. You drop your keys, you miss the bus, you remember you forgot to call someone back. It's a softened substitute for a real swear word that starts with the same sound. So you get the feeling out without offending anyone.

It is very American, friendly and safe. You can say it at work, around kids and in front of your grandmother. Some people hear it as a little old-fashioned or wholesome, which is part of its charm. There's a second, separate meaning: "Shoot" as an invitation, meaning "Go ahead, ask me" or "Tell me." If someone says "Can I ask you something?", the answer "Shoot" means "Sure, go ahead."

In a conversation

TylerMia
  1. Tyler
  2. Mia
  3. Tyler
  4. Mia
  5. Tyler

Say it out loud

Tap a sentence to hear it. Say it after the voice.

Check yourself

1Mia first says "Shoot." to Tyler's question. What does she mean?
2Later she says "Shoot, no." What is she showing?

Practice · 3 min

Listen, then say each line. For annoyance, "shoot" drops at the end. For "go ahead", it's short and bright.

Say it today

Use it once in a real conversation before tomorrow. Out loud counts, even to yourself.