Useful English Word or Phrase to Boost Your English: To Call Shotgun

Quick summary: An informal phrase meaning claim the front passenger seat before anyone else.

What does it mean?

To call shotgun means to claim the front passenger seat in a car before somebody else does.

Is it positive or negative?

It is neutral and playful.

When do you use it?

Use it with friends or family when deciding who sits where in the car.

Examples

Example 1: I called shotgun, so I am sitting in the front.

Example 2: The kids started shouting shotgun the second I picked up the keys.

Question for you

Did you have a phrase like call shotgun when you were younger?

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