cheap shot n.
1. (US) a wounding, sneering remark; thus cheap-shot artist, one who habitually makes such remarks.
Friends of Eddie Coyle 42: That was a cheap shot. I apologize. | ||
Tales of the City (1984) 36: Sorry. Cheap shot. | ||
London Fields 432: I guess it looks like a cheap shot, the revelation, at this stage, that Richard is Guy’s brother. | ||
Let It Bleed 207: You called me ‘Derry’ – that was a cheap shot. | ||
Indep. on Sun. Culture 11 July 9: A cheap shot, which I withdraw unreservedly. |
2. attrib. use of sense 1.
N.Y. Times 29 May 20: The movie opened yesterday at the Paris Theater and the Criterion, for the English antiwar cheap-shot satire brigade. | ||
Ladies’ Man (1985) 26: A cheap-shot homo joke. | ||
(con. early 1950s) L.A. Confidential 291: I always figured Vincennes was a cheap-shot cop on the take somehow. | ||
(con. 1962) Enchanters 78: He ran a cheap-shot number upside my face. |
3. a surprise punch, usu. when inflicted for no reason other than causing pain or injury, also as v. (see cite 1974).
About Three Bricks Shy of a Load 107: In the last exhibition game [...] a guy complained, said I hit him a cheap shot. I said ‘You motherfucker, you’re not that good, that I have to cheap-shot you’. | ||
(con. 1973) Johnny Porno 86: The guy hit me when I wasn’t looking. Took a cheap shot and then he took off. | ||
Frank Sinatra in a Blender [ebook] No, this was a good lookin’ guy. Solid, with a whole lotta muscle. Bastard took a cheap shot. | ||
Joey Piss Pot 229: ‘Be prepared for a cheap shot. Then feel free to beat the shit out of him’. |