Ride shotgun
Suggest a CorrectionMeaning
To sit in the front passenger seat beside the driver, often claiming a protective or privileged spot, with a sense of camaraderie or readiness.
Origin
From 19th-century America, when stagecoaches had armed guards riding beside drivers; 'shotgun messengers'-to fend off bandits. The 'Deadwood Magazine' in 1901 used it, and by the 1920s, films spread 'ride shotgun' as slang. Post-WWII car culture cemented it for front-seat dibs, as in a 1950s ad.
Variants
- Ride the shotgun
Usage Examples
- I called it; I'm riding shotgun on this trip!
- She rode shotgun while he drove through the storm.
- He loves riding shotgun to navigate the old roads.
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