How to Pronounce "shot across the bow"
expression
SHAHT uh-KRAWSS thuh BOW
SHOT uh-KROSS thuh BOH
Definition
A 'shot across the bow' is a warning or signal given to show that someone is serious and may take stronger action if the situation doesn’t change.
IPA Transcription
American English
ˈʃɑt/ /əˈkɹɔs/ /ˈðə/, /ðə/, /ði/ /ˈbaʊ/, /ˈboʊ
British English
ʃˈɒt/ /əkɹˈɒs/ /ðə, ði/ /bəʊ
Simplified Pronunciation
US
SHAHT uh-KRAWSS thuh BOW
UK
SHOT uh-KROSS thuh BOH
Listen in Context
The email was a shot across the bow to let the team know changes were coming.
Her words in the meeting were a shot across the bow to her competitors.
Their announcement was just a shot across the bow, not the final decision.
The CEO’s memo felt like a real shot across the bow to anyone thinking of breaking the rules.