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Phrasal verbs "shoot away" vs "shoot down"

Differences between shoot away and shoot down

Shoot away means to ask a question or start a conversation, while shoot down means to reject an idea or proposal.

Meanings and Definitions: shoot away vs shoot down

Learn how to use these expressions through these examples

Shoot away

  • 1Leave somewhere quickly.

    He SHOT AWAY as soon as the bell rang for the end of the lesson.

Shoot down

  • 1To reject or defeat something decisively.

    Each proposal was shot down in flames.

  • 2To cause something to fall by shooting at it.

    The airliner was shot down by mistake.

Usage Examples: shoot away, shoot down in Sentences

Learn how to use these expressions through these examples

shoot away

Example

As soon as the meeting ended, she shot away to catch her train.

Example

He always shoots away as soon as the class is over.

shoot down

Example

She tried to shoot down his argument during the debate.

Example

He always shoots down any new ideas during meetings.

Similar Expressions(Synonyms) of Shoot away

fire away

To ask a question or start a conversation.

Example

If you have any doubts, feel free to fire away and I'll do my best to answer them.

ask away

To encourage someone to ask questions or seek information.

Example

The professor told the students to ask away if they had any doubts about the course material.

start talking

To begin a conversation or discussion.

Example

After the long silence, she decided to start talking about her recent trip to Europe.

Similar Expressions(Synonyms) of Shoot down

reject outright

To refuse or dismiss an idea or proposal without consideration.

Example

The board rejected outright the proposal to increase employee salaries due to budget constraints.

dismiss out of hand

To reject or disregard something without giving it proper attention or consideration.

Example

He dismissed out of hand the idea of changing the company's logo without even looking at the proposed designs.

veto

To reject or forbid a decision or proposal.

Example

The president vetoed the bill passed by Congress, citing concerns about its impact on the economy.

Explore more Phrasal Verbs

Here are some phrasal verbs with the same verbs or particles

Phrasal Verbs with “down”

Differences in shoot away vs shoot down: Usage, Formality, and Tone

Frequency in Daily Use: shoot away or shoot down?

In daily conversation, people use shoot down more often than shoot away. This is because shoot down is used for more common situations such as rejecting an idea or proposal. Shoot away is not used as much. It's mainly used when we're encouraging someone to ask questions or start a conversation. So, while both phrases are used, shoot down is more common in everyday conversation.

Informal vs Formal: Contextual Use of shoot away and shoot down

Shoot away and shoot down are informal phrases often used in casual conversations. They are suitable for everyday interactions with friends and family. In more formal settings like business or academic contexts, using alternative expressions can convey a more polished tone.

Tone and Implication: The Nuances of shoot away and shoot down

The tone of shoot away and shoot down can differ based on context. Shoot away often carries an encouraging or curious tone when related to asking questions or starting a conversation, while shoot down typically has a negative and dismissive tone, especially when referring to rejecting an idea or proposal.

shoot away & shoot down: Synonyms and Antonyms

Shoot away

Synonyms

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