Definition

1. Noun:
   • A target used in shooting sports: A "clay pigeon" is a small, saucer-shaped disk made of a brittle material (historically clay, now often a pitch/resin mixture) that is launched into the air to be shot at as a target in sports like trapshooting and skeet shooting.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The shooter hit every clay pigeon during the competition.
  • We spent the afternoon launching and shooting at clay pigeons.

Advanced Usage

• "To be a clay pigeon" (figurative, informal): To be in a vulnerable position, easily targeted or blamed.
  • In the political debate, the inexperienced candidate felt like a clay pigeon.
• "Clay pigeon shooting": The sport or activity itself.
  • Clay pigeon shooting requires good hand-eye coordination.

Variants and Related Words

• Skeet: A specific shooting sport where clay pigeons are launched from two houses in a set sequence.
• Trap: A specific shooting sport where clay pigeons are launched from a single machine.
• Target: The general term for an object aimed at in shooting practice or sport.

Synonyms

• Target: An object aimed at.
• Disk: A flat, thin, round object (describes the shape).

Related Phrases

• "To break a clay pigeon": To successfully hit and shatter the target.
  • Her goal was to break at least twenty clay pigeons.
• "Clay pigeon launcher/trap": The machine that propels the targets into the air.

Related Idioms

• "Like shooting clay pigeons": Used to describe a task that is very easy or where success is almost guaranteed.
  • With his experience, winning the local tournament was like shooting clay pigeons.

Noun

1. target used in skeet or trapshooting