Center for Hope & Safety
Violent Phrases That Are Used In Everyday Speech
Violence is all around us. Turn on the TV and it’s in the news or the hour-long police procedural drama. Explosions and gun fights are a common staple of the latest blockbuster in the theatres or on DVD. One place you may not noticed the infiltration of violence is in what you say each and every day. Have you ever said any of the following?
| When push comes to shove | Give it a shot |
| Adding insult to injury | Take a shot at it |
| Hitting on an idea | Something to shoot for |
| Deadbeat | Right on target |
| Take a stab at it | Need more ammunition |
| Shot in the dark | Bullet points |
| Push over | Take your best shot |
| To be brutally honest | Shot in the dark |
| Soften the blow | Shoot off your mouth |
| Beats me | Gun shy |
| That really bombed | Gunning for trouble |
| Pushed over the edge | Under the gun |
| Blown away | Whole shootin’ match |
| Killer smile | Shoot the breeze |
| Kick the bucket | Son of a gun |
| Set the world on fire | Shooting holes in the argument |
| Pick your battles | Armed with the facts |
| That really burned me | Drop dead gorgeous |
| Overkill | Gun the engine |
| Kicking around an idea | Hired gun |
| Get away with murder | Shooting blind |
| Killing time | Shooting blanks |
| Punch line | Shooting ducks in a barrel |
| If looks could kill | You slay me |
| That kills me | Ride shotgun |
| Roll with the punches | Traffic was murder |
| Jumped the gun | Moving target |
| Kick in the pants | Do a drive by |
| Bite the bullet | Bring out the big guns |
| The beaten path | Went in with guns blazin’ |
| Hit the road | Keep your powder dry |
| That slays me | Hair-trigger temper |
| Twist your arm | Straight shot |
| Break a leg | Set your sights on the prize |
| Broken heart | Locked and loaded |
| Breaks my heart | Bang for your buck |
| Killing me softly | Loose cannon |
| Knocked up | Rally the troops |
| Hit up | Join the battle |
| At the end of my rope | On your radar screen |
| The straw that broke the camels back | Leading the charge |
| Shoot from the hip | Had a blast |
| Straight shooter | He/she’s dynamite |
| Shoot yourself in the foot | Going ballistic |
| Blow up in your face | Old habits die hard |
| She’s a real pistol, that one | |
| Combating domestic violence (slogan often used with agencies working to end domestic violence - especially those associated with law enforcement) | |
| Fight for your Rights (slogan used in MTV campaign to address violence against youth) | |
24-hour hotline 503-399-7722
©2025 Center for Hope & Safety|Site by NetRaising