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

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

Hankison fired 10 times into her apartment, which he said he did to protect fellow officers as Taylor's boyfriend opened fire when officers broke down the door.

From BBC

Related Words

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