cheap shot
noun
1
: an act of deliberate roughness against a defenseless opponent especially in a contact sport
taking cheap shots at the quarterback
2
: a critical statement that takes unfair advantage of a known weakness of the target
Examples of cheap shot in a Sentence
He took a cheap shot at the quarterback.
a cheap shot to the back of the head
The remark about his weight was a cheap shot.
Recent Examples on the Web
The Bruins, fuming over Sam Bennett’s cheap shot that knocked out captain Brad Marchand in Game 3, had taken a 2-0 lead in Game 4 and, with the Garden rocking, Pat Maroon dramatically and quite obviously challenged Bennett to a fight.
—
Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 5 June 2024
Challenging pessimists on their investments is somewhat of a cheap shot.
—Bill Conerly, Forbes, 25 Nov. 2024
That will be easy fine for his cheap shot on Cody Barton.
—Matt Schubert, The Denver Post, 24 Nov. 2024
In Jackpot!, the potshots at the public at large are contrivances and conveniences — cheap shots designed to sell us on the film’s uninspired action high jinks and its clangingly dull comedy.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 15 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for cheap shot 
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Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 5 June 2024
Challenging pessimists on their investments is somewhat of a cheap shot.
—Bill Conerly, Forbes, 25 Nov. 2024
That will be easy fine for his cheap shot on Cody Barton.
—Matt Schubert, The Denver Post, 24 Nov. 2024
In Jackpot!, the potshots at the public at large are contrivances and conveniences — cheap shots designed to sell us on the film’s uninspired action high jinks and its clangingly dull comedy.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 15 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for cheap shot
Dictionary Entries Near cheap shot
Cite this Entry
“Cheap shot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cheap%20shot. Accessed 15 Jan. 2025.
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