at one shot

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at one shot" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe accomplishing something in a single attempt or effort without interruption. Example: "He managed to complete the entire project at one shot, impressing his colleagues with his efficiency."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

Hatton, who shared fifth at the Open, closed with a 68 with Casey's round four coming in at one shot better.

The Guardian - Sport

It was just too much of him at one shot, with the late work feeling noisy and gauche, kind of embarrassing.

The New York Times - Arts

"Each week, he covered the mess of papers and letters and reprints on his desk with a desk-size sheet of white paper until he had built up many layers, at which time he would clean up his desk at one shot," Mr. Seeman says.

The New York Times

The development of large amounts of high quality training data at one shot is hard and even undesirable [32].

Brain Informatics

You need to stop at one shot, if not sooner.

Los Angeles Times

At one shot better, he would have had only two players ahead of him to overcome to win his 15th major title and first in more than 10 years.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

By contrast, humans excel at "one-shot" learning, and can perform complex tasks based on such learning.

SEP

However, King allegedly yelled at the six officers on the scene and fired at least one shot at police, according to WHO-TV.

Huffington Post

The suspect fired at least one shot at the agent, who returned fire".

The New York Times

The agent fired at least one shot at the suspect and another would-be immigrant, who fled back into Mexico, said an agency spokesman, Patrick Berry.

The New York Times

At that, the guard fired at least one shot from his 9 mm service weapon.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "at one shot" when you want to emphasize that something was done in a single, uninterrupted effort or attempt. It can add emphasis to the efficiency or decisiveness of the action.

Common error

Avoid using "at one shot" when describing processes that inherently require multiple steps or cannot be completed in a single action. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound unnatural or forced.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at one shot" functions primarily as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs to indicate that an action is performed in a single, uninterrupted effort. Ludwig examples show its usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Academia

20%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "at one shot" is used to describe actions performed in a single, continuous effort, emphasizing efficiency or decisiveness. While grammatically correct, its usage is relatively rare and leans towards informal contexts. According to Ludwig AI, it functions as an adverbial phrase and is most commonly found in news and media sources. For more formal writing, consider alternatives like "in one go" or "in a single attempt".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in one go

Implies completing something without interruption or pauses.

in a single attempt

Highlights the act of trying to achieve something only once.

all at once

Emphasizes the simultaneous nature of an action.

in one fell swoop

Suggests a swift and decisive action that accomplishes something completely.

at a single stroke

Similar to 'in one fell swoop', emphasizing a decisive action.

with a single action

Focuses on the economy of effort involved.

in one step

Emphasizes the directness and efficiency of the action.

in a moment

Refers to the quickness and speed of the action.

instantly

Indicates an immediate and swift action.

in a flash

Emphasizes the speed and suddenness of the event.

FAQs

What does "at one shot" mean?

"At one shot" means doing something in a single attempt, effort, or action without interruption. It emphasizes efficiency or decisiveness.

When is it appropriate to use "at one shot" in writing?

It's appropriate when describing tasks completed in a single continuous action, like "He cleaned his desk "at one shot"".

Are there alternatives to using the phrase "at one shot"?

Yes, you can use phrases like "in one go", "in a single attempt", or "all at once" to convey a similar meaning.

Is "at one shot" formal or informal?

The phrase "at one shot" leans towards informal usage. For formal contexts, consider alternatives like "in a single attempt" or rephrasing the sentence to achieve a more professional tone.