pot shot

Etymology
1858, shot taken for the (cooking) pot, namely for food; see. Sense “opportunistic criticism” from 1926.

Noun

 * 1) A haphazard shot with a firearm, taken with careless aim, often fired at a random target.
 * 2) A shot taken from a hidden stakeout.
 * 3) By analogy, insulting or hurtful words carelessly or randomly said; opportunistic attack, especially criticism.

Translations

 * Danish: kasteskud
 * Finnish: sokkolaukaus
 * German: Schuss aufs Geratewohl


 * German: Schuss aus dem Hinterhalt


 * Finnish: summittainen kritiikki
 * German: Heruntergeputze, Herunterputzen, scharfe Attacke