SHOOTING MOON Meaning and
Definition
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The term "shooting the moon" is a metaphorical expression, primarily used in card games, often referring to the game of Hearts. In this context, shooting the moon is a risky strategy in which a player aims to win all the penalty points or to avoid collecting any points at all.
The objective of Hearts is to score as few points as possible, with each heart card worth one point and the Queen of Spades worth thirteen points. By shooting the moon, a player tries to collect all the hearts and the Queen of Spades, thereby gaining twenty-six penalty points. If successful, this strategy results in other players receiving penalty points instead, leading to a substantial advantage for the shooter.
Outside of the card game, "shooting the moon" can be used more broadly to describe a daring or audacious action that defies conventional wisdom or expectations. It implies taking a bold, high-risk approach with a potentially remarkable payoff. The phrase is often employed to describe ambitious endeavors or extravagant goals that require a combination of skill, luck, and tenacity to achieve.
In summary, "shooting the moon" is a figurative term for an aggressive tactic in card games like Hearts, in which a player attempts to obtain all the hearts and the Queen of Spades to gain penalty points while forcing opponents to accumulate them instead. Beyond the card game, the phrase conveys the idea of undertaking a courageous, audacious, or ambitious action, often with significant potential rewards.
Common Misspellings for SHOOTING MOON
- ahooting moon
- zhooting moon
- xhooting moon
- dhooting moon
- ehooting moon
- whooting moon
- sgooting moon
- sbooting moon
- snooting moon
- sjooting moon
- suooting moon
- syooting moon
- shioting moon
- shkoting moon
- shloting moon
- shpoting moon
- sh0oting moon
- sh9oting moon
- shoiting moon
- shokting moon
Etymology of SHOOTING MOON
The phrase "shooting the moon" originated from the card game called Hearts. In Hearts, players strive to avoid collecting certain penalty cards, including the Queen of Spades ("the moon"). "Shooting the moon" refers to a risky strategy where a player attempts to collect all the penalty cards intentionally, in the hope of forcing other players to earn the penalties instead. If successful, the player who shoots the moon can earn no points, while the remaining players receive a significant penalty. The phrase "shooting the moon" has since been adopted outside of the card game context and used more generally to describe taking a high-risk, ambitious action.
