slings and arrows

plural noun

: pointed often acerbic critical attacks
has suffered the slings and arrows of detractorsRoland Gelatt

Examples of slings and arrows in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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McConnell's plodding style contrasts with Trump's bravado, but the former Senate Republican leader set aside intraparty slings and arrows long enough to transform the federal judiciary and ease Trump's three Supreme Court nominees' paths to confirmation. Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 21 Feb. 2025 Borderlands doesn’t just suffer from the usual slings and arrows of moving something stupendously successful in one medium to another, and praying that most of the beloved, vital elements don’t get lost in translation. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 8 Aug. 2024 There are ways to deal with life’s slings and arrows. David Holahan, Hartford Courant, 2 Feb. 2024 Those slings and arrows now include a campaign by Musk to chip away at Delaware’s special status in the corporate world. Rachel Lerman, Washington Post, 19 Feb. 2024 See All Example Sentences for slings and arrows

Word History

Etymology

from the phrase "the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune" in Shakespeare's Hamlet

First Known Use

1963, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of slings and arrows was in 1963

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Cite this Entry

“Slings and arrows.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slings%20and%20arrows. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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