bean-shooter

A boy aims his bean-shooter at a target on a fence.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A "bean-shooter" is a simple toy weapon, typically a tube or pipe used to shoot small objects like beans or peas by blowing air through it. It is also sometimes called a blowgun or pea shooter.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The children made a bean-shooter from a hollow stem to play with in the garden. (A tube used to shoot small objects like beans.)
  • He aimed his bean-shooter at the target and blew a bean across the room. (The toy used for propelling small projectiles.)

Advanced Usage

• "to use a bean-shooter": to employ this toy for playful shooting.

  • The boy used a bean-shooter to launch peas at his friend during recess. (He used the toy as a playful weapon.)

• "bean-shooter" as a slang term: In informal contexts, "bean-shooter" can refer to a slingshot or a similar handheld projectile device.

  • The old man kept a bean-shooter in his pocket to scare away birds. (A slingshot-like tool for launching small items.)

Variants and Related Words

• Blowgun (n): a long tube used to shoot darts or pellets by blowing.

  • The hunter used a blowgun to hunt small game. (A similar device, often more sophisticated than a bean-shooter.)

• Pea shooter (n): a specific type of bean-shooter designed to shoot peas.

  • The child’s pea shooter was made from a plastic straw. (A variation of the bean-shooter.)

Synonyms

• Blowpipe: a tube used to blow projectiles.
• Slingshot: a Y-shaped frame with an elastic band used to shoot small objects (though this is not the same mechanism, it serves a similar playful purpose).

Phrasal Verbs

• Shoot with a bean-shooter: to use the device to propel objects.
  • He shot a bean across the yard with his bean-shooter. (He used the toy to launch the bean.)

Related Idioms

• "Not worth a bean-shooter": a rare, informal phrase meaning something is of very little value or trivial.
  • That old toy is not worth a bean-shooter anymore. (It is insignificant or worthless.)