shoot verb [intransitive and transitive] to use a gun to fire bullets, or to kill or injure someone using a gun:
He ordered his men to stop shooting.
The guards shot the man as he was trying to escape.
President Kennedy was shot by a lone gunman.
fire verb [intransitive and transitive] to shoot bullets from a gun, or send an explosive object towards someone or something:
Soldiers fired into the crowd.
Helicopters fired rockets at several buildings.
He regained his balance, took aim, and fired.
The police fired into the air to make the crowd break up.
As soon as we crossed the border, enemy troops started firing at us.
Kendrick fired three shots at the President’s car.
Suddenly the car stopped, and the passenger got out and fired a Kalashnikov rifle at the police car.
launch verb [transitive] to send a large rocket or missile into the air:
American warships launched cruise missiles.
The guerrillas launched their rockets from densely populated towns.
open fire to start shooting:
Nineteen students were injured after a gunman opened fire.
Troops opened fire on a group of unarmed demonstrators.
The colonel gave the order for the soldiers to open fire.
shell verb [transitive] to fire shells (=metal containers filled with an explosive substance) at enemy soldiers, cities etc in a war, using large guns:
Border towns have been shelled by enemy aircraft for the past two months.
British warships began shelling German positions along the coast.
bombard verb [transitive] to attack a place for a long time with shells or bombs:
Allied forces bombarded the coast prior to the invasion.
Troops bombarded the area with shells.
The allied forces bombarded the enemy trenches for weeks.
Cromwell’s men had been bombarding the fort with their artillery for several days.
take a potshot at somebody/something to shoot at someone or something without aiming very carefully:
Someone tried to take a potshot at him, but hit the man behind instead.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

take a potshot at
• take a potshot at (someone or something)
to criticize someone or something
The mayor of the city decided to take a potshot at his opponent in the election.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

take a potshot at something
• take a potshot at (someone or something)
to criticize someone or something
The mayor of the city decided to take a potshot at his opponent in the election.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

take a potshot at someone
• take a potshot at (someone or something)
to criticize someone or something
The mayor of the city decided to take a potshot at his opponent in the election.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲