blindly shooting

USAGE SUMMARY

"blindly shooting" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe someone who is acting recklessly, without proper consideration for the consequences. For example, "He blindly shot his way out of the room, not caring who he might hurt in the process."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

"The deputies were unable to return fire due to poor sight lines and concern that they couldn't see who else may have been inside the garage," the department wrote on Facebook, praising the officers' "incredible restraint" for taking cover and not blindly shooting.

Los Angeles Times

Rather than blindly shooting, learn to see.

WikiHow

Always have Sora locked-on to the mushroom; this way you won't be blindly shooting, which will cause you to miss a lot and fail the challenge.

WikiHow

The better the light, the fewer mediocre pictures you'll take, which means more winners per roll, which means you're not blindly shooting tons of film in the hope of getting one or two good ones, which saves you money!

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Don't go too fast if it's an especially busy day on the trail, and don't blindly shoot around corners.

WikiHow

They don't know why they are in Iraq; they "do their job" as narrowly defined, which often means doing it blindly, senselessly — shooting at a frightened driver who runs through a checkpoint, for instance.

The New Yorker

The video showed a man shooting blindly into the crowd; I could hear protestors identify him as a member of the Basij.

The New York Times

"Two or three men, without masks, came in with Kalashnikov-type automatic weapons and began shooting blindly at the crowd... it lasted 10, 15 minutes.

The Guardian

There's the cowardice and savagery of shooting blindly into an assembled crowd, sure, but there's an extra degree of spitefulness here — the rancor required to deliberately turn a plainly joyful gathering into a mass grave.

The New Yorker

ART: RENAISSANCE TREASURE FOUND -- A digital camera, thrust inside a hole used by pigeons and shooting blindly, has led an art restoration team to a Renaissance fresco of winged angels hidden from view for more than three centuries in the ceiling of the cathedral in Valencia, Spain.

The New York Times - Books

The returned troops told of the slaughter of civilians; "reconnaissance by fire," or soldiers shooting blindly; "harassment and interdiction fire," with artillery being used to shell villages; captives thrown from helicopters; severed ears drying in the sun or being swapped for beers; and "Zippo inspections" of cigarette lighters in preparation for burning villages.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "blindly shooting" in your writing, ensure the context clearly conveys the recklessness or lack of awareness associated with the action. Use it to emphasize the irresponsibility or potential danger of acting without proper consideration.

Common error

Avoid using "blindly shooting" in situations where a lack of vision is the primary factor. This phrase implies a lack of judgment or awareness, not necessarily a physical impairment. For scenarios related to actual blindness, consider alternative phrasing such as "shooting while blindfolded" or "shooting with impaired vision".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "blindly shooting" functions as a gerund phrase, often used as a verb complement or adverbial modifier. Ludwig AI identifies it as correct and usable in written English, typically describing reckless or ill-considered actions.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

40%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "blindly shooting" is a grammatically correct gerund phrase that is used to describe a reckless or irresponsible action taken without proper consideration. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. Its usage is most common in news and media, and in wiki-based contexts. The phrase's purpose is to emphasize the lack of awareness or foresight associated with the action. When writing, consider the strong negative connotation of recklessness when choosing to use this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

shooting without aiming

Directly points out the absence of aiming, implying a lack of accuracy or intent.

indiscriminately firing

Focuses on the lack of discrimination in the shooting, emphasizing that shots are taken randomly without a specific target.

firing indiscriminately

Similar to 'indiscriminately firing', this focuses on the lack of selectivity in choosing targets.

shooting recklessly

Highlights the dangerous and careless nature of the shooting action.

shooting at random

Highlights the randomness of the shooting action, suggesting a lack of intention or control.

aimlessly discharging a firearm

Emphasizes the lack of direction and purpose in firing the weapon.

acting without foresight

Broadens the concept to any action taken without considering the potential consequences.

operating without guidance

Emphasizes the lack of direction or instruction in performing a task.

proceeding without awareness

Highlights the lack of understanding or knowledge while taking action.

acting impulsively

Focuses on the sudden and unplanned nature of the action.

FAQs

How can "blindly shooting" be used in a sentence?

The phrase "blindly shooting" can be used to describe someone firing a weapon without aiming or consideration, or metaphorically to describe someone acting rashly without thinking. For instance, "The gunman was "shooting blindly" into the crowd", or "The company was "investing blindly" in new ventures".

What are some alternatives to "blindly shooting"?

Alternatives to "blindly shooting" include "shooting without aiming", "firing indiscriminately", or "acting recklessly" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "blindly shooting" in formal writing?

While "blindly shooting" is grammatically correct, it carries a strong connotation of recklessness. In formal writing, consider alternatives that convey the intended meaning with more precision and neutrality, such as "shooting without clear targets" or "acting without due diligence".

What does "blindly shooting" imply beyond the literal meaning?

Beyond the literal act of firing a weapon without sight, "blindly shooting" often implies a lack of awareness, foresight, or responsible decision-making. It suggests that the actor is proceeding without considering the potential consequences of their actions, often leading to negative outcomes.