point blank

See also: pointblank and point-blank

English

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

• Audio (AU)

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Adjective

point blank (not comparable)

1. The distance between a gun and a target such that it requires minimal effort in aiming it. In particular no allowance needs to be made for effects of gravity, target movement or wind in aiming the projectile.

Adverb

point blank (not comparable)

1. Horizontally (as the angle at which a projectile is launched); directly or straight (at the target).
2. (idiomatic) Directly; bluntly; without pretense or caution.

   I asked him point blank whether he was cheating on his wife.

Translations

straight at the target

• French: à bout portant (fr)
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}

directly; bluntly; without pretense or caution

• French: tout de go (fr)
• Hungarian: kerek perec (hu)
• Italian: a bruciapelo (it)
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Russian: в лоб (v lob), напряму́ю (ru) (naprjamúju), в упо́р (v upór)
• Spanish: a quemarropa (es), a bocajarro, sin paños calientes
• Telugu: ముఖం మీద కొట్టినట్లు (mukhaṁ mīda koṭṭinaṭlu)