both barrels
English
Etymology
In reference to a shotgun.
Noun
both barrels pl (plural only)
- (informal, figuratively) The maximum damage that a weapon can deliver
- to give someone both barrels
- to let someone have both barrels
- to hit someone with both barrels
References
- “give someone both barrels” (US) / “give someone both barrels” (UK) in Macmillan English Dictionary, Macmillan Education.
- “let sb have both barrels” in the Cambridge English Dictionary, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.