shoot on sight

idiom

: to immediately shoot (someone) one sees
The guards were ordered to shoot on sight anyone who tried to escape.

Browse Nearby Entries

Cite this Entry

“Shoot on sight.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shoot%20on%20sight. Accessed 28 Feb. 2025.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!