The term has its origins in the idea that casual shooting is unbefitting a true sportsman, and is in fact characteristic of a hunter whose effort is wholly pragmatic—to get something for the cooking pot. That's right: a potshot is (historically, anyway) a shot for the sake of the (cooking) pot.
What does taking a potshot mean?
1 : a shot taken from ambush or at a random or easy target. 2 : a critical remark made in a random or sporadic manner. potshot. verb. potshot; potshotting.
How do you use potshot in a sentence?
criticism aimed at an easy target and made without careful consideration.
- He was taking potshots at neighbourhood cats.
- The newspapers took constant potshots at the president.
- The recent criticism of his leadership has included potshots from several leading political journalists.
