Cowboys?

Posted by Brian from Shawnee on April 14, 2006

In Reply to: Pentagon officials? posted by Bob on April 14, 2006

: : To shoot yourself in the foot - I believe it is in reference to archers?

: The technology may change, but the self-destructive target remains.

It would be very awkward if not impossible for an archer to shoot himself it the foot (unless it's with a crossbow), so I think it comes from the days of the Old West where you had cowboys carrying revolvers at their sides in holsters. If a cowboy pulled the trigger with the gun stuck the holster, he could end up shooting himself in the foot. Happens in comedy movies all the time. (Come to think of it, "cowboy" is another disparaging term that can be applied to Pentagon officials from time to time.)