What does “shotgun unity” refer to here in this sentence?
An example sentence on a Merriam Webster page has me scratching my head over a phrase:
after the national emergency had passed, the political parties abandoned their shotgun unity and reverted to their partisan squabbling
"Shotgun unity" doesn't seem to be idiomatic. What does "shotgun" mean here? Shotgun as in "a shotgun approach"?
meaning meaning-in-context word-meaning
asked Mar 31 at 18:02
Eddie KalEddie Kal
8,11662866
add a comment |
An example sentence on a Merriam Webster page has me scratching my head over a phrase:
after the national emergency had passed, the political parties abandoned their shotgun unity and reverted to their partisan squabbling
"Shotgun unity" doesn't seem to be idiomatic. What does "shotgun" mean here? Shotgun as in "a shotgun approach"?
meaning meaning-in-context word-meaning
asked Mar 31 at 18:02
Eddie KalEddie Kal
8,11662866
add a comment |
An example sentence on a Merriam Webster page has me scratching my head over a phrase:
after the national emergency had passed, the political parties abandoned their shotgun unity and reverted to their partisan squabbling
"Shotgun unity" doesn't seem to be idiomatic. What does "shotgun" mean here? Shotgun as in "a shotgun approach"?
meaning meaning-in-context word-meaning
asked Mar 31 at 18:02
Eddie KalEddie Kal
8,11662866
An example sentence on a Merriam Webster page has me scratching my head over a phrase:
after the national emergency had passed, the political parties abandoned their shotgun unity and reverted to their partisan squabbling
"Shotgun unity" doesn't seem to be idiomatic. What does "shotgun" mean here? Shotgun as in "a shotgun approach"?
meaning meaning-in-context word-meaning
meaning meaning-in-context word-meaning
asked Mar 31 at 18:02
Eddie KalEddie Kal
8,11662866
asked Mar 31 at 18:02
Eddie KalEddie Kal
8,11662866
asked Mar 31 at 18:02
Eddie KalEddie Kal
8,11662866
asked Mar 31 at 18:02
Eddie KalEddie Kal
8,11662866
asked Mar 31 at 18:02
Eddie KalEddie Kal
8,11662866
8,11662866
add a comment |
add a comment |
1 Answer
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"Shotgun unity" is a play on the phrase "Shotgun marriage," which describes a marriage that was compelled or forced. It comes from the days when out-of-wedlock children was a substantial social stigma and the sire was expected to become husband, even if it had to happen at the point of a gun.
Thus, "shotgun unity" describes a compelled or forced unity: one that neither party particularly wants, but are forced to endure due to a more demanding need.
Note: your suggestion that it might be related to "shotgun approach" is in error as the use of "shotgun" in that regard refers to the spread of the pellets vs. the power of the gun. By throwing a lot of pellets into the air, it's easier to hunt a bird compared to using a single-shot (e.g., a .22 caliber rifle) weapon. Thus, a "shotgun approach" refers to using many different, simultaneous solutions to guarantee achieving a goal.
answered Mar 31 at 18:24
JBHJBH
2,2581418
1
Also “shotgun wedding”, and not directly related to “shotgun shack”.
– Todd Wilcox
2 days ago
add a comment |
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1 Answer
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1 Answer
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"Shotgun unity" is a play on the phrase "Shotgun marriage," which describes a marriage that was compelled or forced. It comes from the days when out-of-wedlock children was a substantial social stigma and the sire was expected to become husband, even if it had to happen at the point of a gun.
Thus, "shotgun unity" describes a compelled or forced unity: one that neither party particularly wants, but are forced to endure due to a more demanding need.
Note: your suggestion that it might be related to "shotgun approach" is in error as the use of "shotgun" in that regard refers to the spread of the pellets vs. the power of the gun. By throwing a lot of pellets into the air, it's easier to hunt a bird compared to using a single-shot (e.g., a .22 caliber rifle) weapon. Thus, a "shotgun approach" refers to using many different, simultaneous solutions to guarantee achieving a goal.
answered Mar 31 at 18:24
JBHJBH
2,2581418
1
Also “shotgun wedding”, and not directly related to “shotgun shack”.
– Todd Wilcox
2 days ago
add a comment |
"Shotgun unity" is a play on the phrase "Shotgun marriage," which describes a marriage that was compelled or forced. It comes from the days when out-of-wedlock children was a substantial social stigma and the sire was expected to become husband, even if it had to happen at the point of a gun.
Thus, "shotgun unity" describes a compelled or forced unity: one that neither party particularly wants, but are forced to endure due to a more demanding need.
Note: your suggestion that it might be related to "shotgun approach" is in error as the use of "shotgun" in that regard refers to the spread of the pellets vs. the power of the gun. By throwing a lot of pellets into the air, it's easier to hunt a bird compared to using a single-shot (e.g., a .22 caliber rifle) weapon. Thus, a "shotgun approach" refers to using many different, simultaneous solutions to guarantee achieving a goal.
answered Mar 31 at 18:24
JBHJBH
2,2581418
1
Also “shotgun wedding”, and not directly related to “shotgun shack”.
– Todd Wilcox
2 days ago
add a comment |
"Shotgun unity" is a play on the phrase "Shotgun marriage," which describes a marriage that was compelled or forced. It comes from the days when out-of-wedlock children was a substantial social stigma and the sire was expected to become husband, even if it had to happen at the point of a gun.
Thus, "shotgun unity" describes a compelled or forced unity: one that neither party particularly wants, but are forced to endure due to a more demanding need.
Note: your suggestion that it might be related to "shotgun approach" is in error as the use of "shotgun" in that regard refers to the spread of the pellets vs. the power of the gun. By throwing a lot of pellets into the air, it's easier to hunt a bird compared to using a single-shot (e.g., a .22 caliber rifle) weapon. Thus, a "shotgun approach" refers to using many different, simultaneous solutions to guarantee achieving a goal.
answered Mar 31 at 18:24
JBHJBH
2,2581418
"Shotgun unity" is a play on the phrase "Shotgun marriage," which describes a marriage that was compelled or forced. It comes from the days when out-of-wedlock children was a substantial social stigma and the sire was expected to become husband, even if it had to happen at the point of a gun.
Thus, "shotgun unity" describes a compelled or forced unity: one that neither party particularly wants, but are forced to endure due to a more demanding need.
Note: your suggestion that it might be related to "shotgun approach" is in error as the use of "shotgun" in that regard refers to the spread of the pellets vs. the power of the gun. By throwing a lot of pellets into the air, it's easier to hunt a bird compared to using a single-shot (e.g., a .22 caliber rifle) weapon. Thus, a "shotgun approach" refers to using many different, simultaneous solutions to guarantee achieving a goal.
answered Mar 31 at 18:24
JBHJBH
2,2581418
answered Mar 31 at 18:24
JBHJBH
2,2581418
answered Mar 31 at 18:24
JBHJBH
2,2581418
answered Mar 31 at 18:24
JBHJBH
2,2581418
2,2581418
1
Also “shotgun wedding”, and not directly related to “shotgun shack”.
– Todd Wilcox
2 days ago
add a comment |
1
Also “shotgun wedding”, and not directly related to “shotgun shack”.
– Todd Wilcox
2 days ago
1
1
Also “shotgun wedding”, and not directly related to “shotgun shack”.
– Todd Wilcox
2 days ago
Also “shotgun wedding”, and not directly related to “shotgun shack”.
– Todd Wilcox
2 days ago
add a comment |
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