- To have a very casual, informal, and often lengthy conversation about unimportant things; to chat idly or gossip.
- It implies aimless, relaxed conversation with no particular agenda.
Explanation
Origin
- American slang, emerged likely in the mid-20th century, possibly earlier in military or working-class contexts.
- Shoot here means to talk or speak freely.
- Shit is used as a generic, vulgar term for 'stuff', 'things', or 'talk'. Similar to 'shooting the breeze'.
- The phrase emphasizes the casual, non-serious nature of the conversation.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal (already very informal):
- Bullshit (Can mean talk idly, but also deceive. Context is key)
- Just talking crap (UK/Aus, similar meaning)
- Yack / Yak (Talk continuously)
Vulgar/Emphatic (already vulgar):
- No common more vulgar forms. The phrase itself is inherently vulgar and informal.
Milder:
- Chat casually
- Have a relaxed conversation
- Catch up (Implies sharing news, slightly more purposeful)
- Just talk
Situational Appropriateness
- Very informal and vulgar.
- Use only with close friends or in extremely casual, relaxed settings.
- Completely inappropriate for formal, professional, or polite company. The word shit makes it offensive to many.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- The vulgarity is the main point. Non-native speakers must understand this is *not* acceptable in polite or formal contexts.
- The literal meaning is nonsense; it's purely idiomatic for casual talk.
Examples
- We just stayed up late, drinking beer and shooting the shit.
- Come over later, we can just hang out and shoot the shit.
- I bumped into Dave and we shot the shit for about an hour.
Dialogue
Mike: Hey man, what are you up to tonight?
Leo: Not much, just chilling at home. Why?
Mike: Feel like coming over? Grab a couple beers, shoot the shit?
Leo: Yeah, sounds good. Give me like 30 minutes?
Mike: Perfect. See ya then.
Social Media Examples
- Twitter: Best nights are just chilling with friends, shooting the shit until 2 AM. #friendship #goodtimes
- Facebook message: Yo dude, free later? Let's grab a drink and shoot the shit.
- Reddit comment: Sometimes you just need to vent and shoot the shit with someone who gets it.
Response Patterns
If invited to shoot the shit:
- Acceptance: Sounds good!, Yeah, cool., Alright, I'm down.
- Declining: Can't tonight, maybe another time?, I'm busy, sorry.
If describing having shot the shit:
- Interest: Oh yeah? What did you talk about?, Who were you with?
- Simple acknowledgement: Nice., Sounds chill.
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
After an invitation:
- Confirming details: What time?, Where at?
After the action:
- Often leads into recounting parts of the conversation or mentioning who was involved. Yeah, we were just shooting the shit about the old days.
Conversation Starter
- No. It describes a type of interaction or proposes it, but isn't used to start the conversation itself. Wanna shoot the shit? is an invitation, not the start of the 'shitting' itself.
Intonation
- Relaxed, casual, friendly tone.
- Stress often falls on SHOOT and SHIT.
Generation Differences
- Most common among younger adults (Millennials, Gen Z) and Gen X, particularly males, but understood by many Boomers as well.
- Its usage signals a very informal, buddies-type relationship.
Regional Variations
- Primarily North American slang, but understood in other regions due to media exposure.
- Similar concepts exist elsewhere (e.g., 'talk crap' in UK/Aus).