on the first shot

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "on the first shot" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something was achieved successfully or correctly on the initial attempt. Example: "He managed to hit the target on the first shot, impressing everyone at the range."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

She missed the bottle completely on the first shot, and the kick surprised her: the gun's explosion shot through her hands and shoulders and down into her legs.

The New Yorker

He missed on the first shot.

The New York Times - Sports

He put a little extra spin on the first shot.

The New York Times - Sports

But Holik scored his 16th goal on the first shot.

The New York Times - Sports

Does the detective solve the case on the first shot?

The New York Times

"On the first shot, you can't see the hole, but you know where it's at.

The Washington Post

On the first shot after her serve or return, Williams made very few mistakes.

The New York Times

On the first shot of the third period, 49 seconds in, Tlusty scored again.

The New York Times - Sports

Jason Blake of the Islanders began Tuesday night's game by scoring on the first shot.

The New York Times - Sports

"On the first shot we showed them, she looked too real," Mr. Raimondi said.

The New York Times

Tugnutt, meanwhile, allowed a goal on the first shot he faced.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "on the first shot" to emphasize efficiency or luck in achieving a goal immediately, particularly in sports, games, or tasks requiring precision.

Common error

Avoid using "on the first shot" when describing complex processes that inherently require multiple steps or attempts. The phrase is best suited for scenarios where a single, decisive action can lead to success.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "on the first shot" functions primarily as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to indicate how or when an action is performed. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is often used to describe achieving something successfully with the initial effort. Examples in Ludwig show it applied to scoring in sports or guessing correctly.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Sports

38%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "on the first shot" is a common prepositional phrase used to emphasize immediate success or efficiency. Ludwig AI confirms it's grammatically correct and usable in written English. Predominantly found in News & Media and Sports contexts, its neutral register makes it suitable for various situations. When using the phrase, ensure it accurately reflects a scenario where a single attempt leads to success. For alternatives, consider "at the initial attempt" or "with the first attempt" to convey a similar meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at the initial attempt

Replaces "first shot" with "initial attempt", emphasizing the beginning.

on the opening try

Substitutes "shot" with "try", highlighting the act of trying.

with the first attempt

Rephrases as a prepositional phrase, focusing on the attempt itself.

on the very first try

Adds emphasis to "first try" with "very", intensifying the immediacy.

at the first opportunity

Changes the focus to the timing of the action.

in the first instance

Offers a more formal alternative using "instance".

on the premiere attempt

Uses a more sophisticated word choice with a similar meaning.

right from the start

Uses an idiom to indicate something happens immediately.

initially

A single-word adverb that means at the beginning.

the first time around

Uses an idiom to indicate the first try or attempt.

FAQs

How can I use "on the first shot" in a sentence?

You can use "on the first shot" to describe an immediate success, like "She guessed the answer "on the first shot"".

What's a more formal way to say "on the first shot"?

A more formal alternative is "in the first instance", which conveys a similar meaning but is suitable for professional contexts.

Is it correct to say "at the first shot" instead of "on the first shot"?

While "at the first attempt" is grammatically correct and similar in meaning, "on the first shot" is the more common and idiomatic expression, especially in sports-related contexts.

What does "getting something on the first shot" imply?

Getting something "on the first shot" implies immediate success or achieving a goal without needing multiple attempts or corrections.