Shot in the head

Posted by Baceseras on August 14, 2007

In Reply to: Shot in the head posted by Bob on August 14, 2007

: : "Shot in the head". We use this phrase to express the fact that you don't really like something. Example, I was not shot in the head with that dress she wore. I have tried to reasonably think about how it may have originated, but am at a loss. Any ideas?

:
: Well, it does represent (extreme) finality. I am not totally, finally convinced....

In the example given, "I was not shot in the head with that dress she wore," it's the word "not" that procures the meaning "that you don't really like something". Taken by itself, "shot in the head" would mean you do indeed like something; it takes its place among many such phrases: I was smitten, I was floored (knocked to the floor), knocked out, thunderstruck, knocked over the moon .... And someone is sure to add:

How lucky can one guy be?
I kissed her and she kissed me.
Like the fella once said,
Ain't that a kick in the head.

(Lyric by Robbie Williams. Famously recorded by Dean Martin)