straight from the shoulder

See also: straight-from-the-shoulder

English

Etymology

From a technique for delivering a strong punch.

Pronunciation

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Adjective

straight from the shoulder

1. (idiomatic, often hyphenated, chiefly of an act of communication) Done in a direct manner; blunt.
   • 1896, Joseph Conrad, chapter IV, in An Outcast of the Islands, London: T. Fisher Unwin […], →OCLC, part IV, page 276:

     He delivered his blow straight from the shoulder, felt the jar right up his arm, and realised suddenly that he was striking something passive and unresisting.

   • 1908, B. M. Bower, chapter 19, in The Long Shadow:

     "Are yuh going to let the Pilgrim hang around here this summer?" he demanded in his straight-from-the-shoulder fashion.

   • 2006 December 19, Jeffrey Donovan, “New Report Says Iraq Attacks Hit Record High”, in Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty, retrieved 11 June 2009:

     "I intend to travel quite soon to Iraq and meet with our military leaders and other personnel there," he said. "I look forward to hearing their honest assessments of the situation on the ground and to having the benefit of their advice—unvarnished and straight from the shoulder—on how to proceed in the weeks and months ahead."

Adverb

straight from the shoulder

1. (idiomatic, chiefly of communicating) In a straightforward manner; directly; bluntly.
   • 1908, H[erbert] G[eorge] Wells, “(please specify |book 1 to 4)”, in Tono-Bungay […], Toronto, Ont.: The Macmillan Company of Canada, Ltd., →OCLC:

     I'd jes' like to drop into the Eastry Arms, jes' when all those beggars in the parlour are sittin' down to whist, Ruck and Marbel and all, and give 'em ten minutes of my mind, George. Straight from the shoulder. Jes' exactly what I think of them.

   • 2005 November 20, Kevin Mitchell, “Listen to the dreams of fighters”, in The Guardian, UK, retrieved 11 June 2009:

     He's an uncomplicated working-class kid who speaks, jab-like, straight from the shoulder.