ride shotgun
/ˌɹaɪd ˈʃɑtɡʌn/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.77 in modern English
16
Scrabble Score
11
Letters
2
Syllables
11
Unique Chars
Meaning
verb
To accompany the driver of a vehicle on a journey as an armed escort (originally with a shotgun); (by extension) to accompany someone in order to assist and protect.
American usage
Example Sentences
- "He attended the meeting to ride shotgun for the sales team, in case anyone had a technical question."
- "Wyatt and Morgan Earp were in the service of the Express Company. They went often as guards—"riding shotgun," it was called—when the stage bore unusual treasure."
- "Him drivin' stage that a-way, he ain't expected none to fight. [...] That's why, when the stage is stopped, the driver's never downed. Which if thar's money aboard, an' the express outfit wants it defended, they slams on some sport to ride shotgun that trip. It's for this shotgun speshulist to give the route agents an argyooment."
- "TV's Wells Fargo Agent Dale Robertson rides shotgun on the armored car which delivers to local Wells Fargo manager the plans for the new building the company will erect in Charlotte."
- "But the situation [of lost mail] has now improved because the Post Office now rides shotgun on the mails at a cost to the Post Office of $2½ million annually."
- "Want me and some people on Rescue One, riding shotgun?"
Etymology
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˌɹaɪd ˈʃɑtɡʌn/
- British English: /ˌɹaɪd ˈʃɒtɡʌn/