English

Verb

shoot the moon ‎(third-person singular simple present shoots the moon, present participle shooting the moon, simple past and past participle shot the moon)

1. To hit the moon, with a rocket or by other means.
   • 1958, "Juno's Gold Cone," Time, 15 Dec.,

     The Army, making its first attempt to shoot the moon, had spent weeks fussing over the Juno II, a 60-ton Jupiter IRBM with a spike of high-speed rockets.

2. (figuratively, by extension) To attain great heights, a high value, or a numerically high measurement.
   • 1981, John DeMott, "Sky-High Interest Rates," Time, 18 May,

     Already orbiting at altitudes unimaginable a few short years ago, interest rates moved even higher last week and threatened to shoot the moon.

3. (card games) To achieve the lowest or highest score possible, such that the player is usually rewarded with bonus points.
   • In our last hand of pinochle, Leon and Janet shot the moon, taking all 50 tricks.
   • When Randy took the queen of spades on the last trick in our game of hearts, he shot the moon.

Synonyms

• (To take a risk for great rewards) go for broke

Related terms

• moon shot

Translations

See also

• grand slam
• over the moon