shootfromthehip (third-person singular simple presentshoots from the hip,present participleshooting from the hip,simple past and past participleshot from the hip)

1. (literally) To discharge afirearm while it is held near the hip, without taking time to aim via thegunsights.
   • 1914,Arthur Conan Doyle, “The German War”, inThe Contemptible Little Army:

     “As to their rifle fire, it was useless.” “Theyshoot from the hip, and don’t seem to aim at anything in particular.”

2. (figuratively) To speak or act quickly based on firstimpressions, without carefully studying the background information, wider context, etc.
   • 2016 June 15,Thomas L. Friedman, “Opinion: Lessons of Hiroshima and Orlando”, inNew York Times, retrieved10 May 2018:

     Trump isshooting from the hip, spraying insults 360 degrees, telling lies, stoking fears and making threats that many in our military and the F.B.I. would refuse to implement.

• (figuratively: speak quickly based on first impressions):shoot from the lip

• hipfire
• hipshot
• shoot first and ask questions later
• trigger-happy

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