open fire

Idioms and Phrases

Begin a verbal attack, as in In her second letter to the editor she opened fire, saying the reporter had deliberately misquoted her . This idiom alludes to discharging a firearm. [Mid-1800s]

Example Sentences

But he moved toward them, and all four deputies opened fire, killing him with a barrage of at least a dozen bullets.

From Los Angeles Times

On Saturday, 10 people were killed and 13 wounded when a gunman opened fire at a bar in Queretaro state.

From Los Angeles Times

In October, gang members opened fire at a UN helicopter, causing some airlines to temporarily cancel flights to the Caribbean nation.

From BBC

Eight days before Biden exited the race, a rifleman had opened fire on Trump while he spoke at a campaign rally in Butler, Pa.

From Los Angeles Times

A Southeast officer was wounded in another police shootout in the division area in July, during which a man allegedly opened fire on a police squad with a machine gun.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• barrage
• batter
• besiege
• blast
• blitz
• bomb
• harass
• hound
• pester
• strafe