a shot across the/someone's bow(s)

idiom

: a warning to not do something or to stop doing something

The fine is a shot across the bow to an industry that thinks it can ignore the law.

Examples of a shot across the/someone's bow(s) in a Sentence

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These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Rohit knows that even in defeat, India have put a shot across the bows of the visitors to suggest normal service resumes soon. —

Tim Ellis, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024 The comments are a shot across the bow ahead of the next UN climate summit. —

Ben Geman, Axios, 25 Sep. 2024 In December, Rahm signed with LIV in a shot across the bow as the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and LIV negotiated a merger of their commercial operations. —

Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 16 Sep. 2024 Durov’s arrest is a shot across the bow for Telegram, which now suddenly finds itself in the sights of European law enforcement and regulators. —

Josh Axelrod, WIRED, 4 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for a shot across the/someone's bow(s)

Dictionary Entries Near a shot across the/someone's bow(s)

ashore

a shot across the/someone's bow(s)

a shoulder to cry on

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“A shot across the/someone's bow(s).” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/a%20shot%20across%20the%2Fsomeone%27s%20bow%28s%29. Accessed 19 Nov. 2024.

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