Idioms

a shot in the arm

This page is about the idiom a shot in the arm

INFORMAL

Meaning

You can say something is a shot in the arm if it gives a person or an organisation renewed energy or enthusiasm.

For example

  • Getting a grant from the Arts Council was a much-needed shot in the arm for the orchestra.

  • We all agree that the economy needs a shot in the arm, but we can't agree on exactly what it should be.

Origin: Related to the medical practice of injecting drugs into sick people. These injections are sometimes called "shots" and they are often administered into the arm.

Quick Quiz

After a terrible start, the team was ready to quit. But after getting a shot in the arm from their coach's half-time team talk, they

a. felt better about losing

b. came back and won the game

c. were even worse than before
a) felt better about losing b) came back and won the game c) were even worse than before

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Common English Idioms

Contributor: Matt Errey