shoot the moon

• Audio (US):

  (file)

shoot the moon (third-person singular simple present shoots the moon, present participle shooting the moon, simple past and past participle shot the moon)

1. To hit the moon, with a rocket or by other means.
   • 1958 December 15, “Juno's Gold Cone”, in Time:

     The Army, making its first attempt to shoot the moon, had spent weeks fussing over the Juno II, a 60-ton Jupiter IRBM with a spike of high-speed rockets.

2. (figuratively, by extension) To attain great heights, a high value, or a numerically high measurement.
   • 1981 May 18, John DeMott, “Sky-High Interest Rates”, in Time:

     Already orbiting at altitudes unimaginable a few short years ago, interest rates moved even higher last week and threatened to shoot the moon.

3. (card games) To achieve the lowest or highest score possible, such that the player is usually rewarded with bonus points.

   In our last hand of pinochle, Leon and Janet shot the moon, taking all 50 tricks.

   When Randy took the queen of spades on the last trick in our game of hearts, he shot the moon.

4. (slang) To abscond without paying one's rent.
   • 1908, Bram Stoker, A Moon-Light Effect:

     So that is how the old rascal shot the moon. He is off on blue water by this time with his whole outfit, and will come back with a fortune. The landlord won't grumble, because Schoolbred must pay his rent, […]

   • 1950, Christopher Morley, Boswell's London Journal 1762-1763 (Preface):

     Perhaps it was Powlett's memory of Boswell's charm that caused him, when he shot the moon and moved to France to escape creditors, to take with him his father-in-law's papers.

• moon shot

• grand slam
• onwards and upwards
• over the moon
• play to win
• shoot for the stars
• the sky is the limit