shooting gallery

noun

1
: a usually covered range equipped with targets for practice with firearms
2
slang : a place where one can obtain narcotics and shoot up

Examples of shooting gallery in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Not bad for five weeks at a shooting gallery, the gunman said. — Jonathan Miles, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026 But even as their city becomes a shooting gallery, many local Ukrainians are refusing to leave. — Dominique Soguel, Christian Science Monitor, 3 June 2025 The space used to be a shooting gallery, back when the location was the home of Gastinne Renette, the armorer that supplied pistols for duels in the 19th century. — Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019 The Ghostbusters shooting gallery attraction takes place in the team's firehouse headquarters (of course) and nearby is one of the most Instagrammable restaurants of any theme park worldwide. — Caroline Reid, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for shooting gallery

Word History

First Known Use

1836, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of shooting gallery was in 1836

Rhymes for shooting gallery

See All Rhymes for shooting gallery

Browse Nearby Words

shooting fish
shooting gallery
shooting glove
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shooting gallery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shooting%20gallery. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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