English

Alternative forms

• shoot-em-up, shoot-'em-up, shoot them up

Noun

shoot ’em up ‎(plural shoot 'em ups)

1. (idiomatic, film, television, literature, video games) A short story, novel, television show, film, computer game, or other narrative which depicts considerable gunplay.

   My wife won't watch this movie; it's a shoot ’em up.

   • 1989, Duncan Macdonald, R-Type (video game review) in Your Sinclair issue 37, January 1989

     An unmissable shoot 'em up.

See also

• beat 'em up