Shotgun!

[abbor]

When we get out riding the car, we say "Shotgun" to get to sit in the passenger seat... I also saw the expression used in Friends, and in some rap songs..

I read this: In the Old West it was the job of the person seated next to the driver to keep a lookout for trouble. This person kept his weapon, usually a shotgun, ready at all times in case it had to be used. ,


Even if I know the original origin of it, I don't know why we came to use it..

Does anyone else know this expression?

[SPEEDKILLAR]

Nope,


Anyway I like to be the driver not the passenger :) :wink:

[BADMIHAI]

I thinks it sounds good, especially when the passanger was a hot female. You can say: "Claudia rode shotgun with me last night." :P :twisted:

[exhausted mules]

its nearly pop culture around here in ontario.

[possessed_beaver]

http://www.shotgunrules.com :wink:

[OVERLORD_CHRIS]

Maybe it stayed through the 30's when the mofia was still running around and they had to do there shoot outs and stuff, so guy sitting shotgun had to take every one out quikely.

OK i'm making stuff up, i can't think of a real reason.......to hungry at the moment, i'll think of something

[possessed_beaver]

did anyone click on the link, lol?

[abbor]

I clicked it.. Hehe.. Thanks, but we're not following those rules though..

[OVERLORD_CHRIS]

I read them, they are funny, i shuld put those up at the movie theater or some thing, right on the door as your leaving see how many people read it. lol

[coombsie66]

Ah, you cant claim the shotgun unless you are in sight of the vehicle in question, hence the running, pushing, shoving involved whilst screaming shotgun, on the way to the car.
Well thats me and my old school mates! Yeah heard that expression a long time ago. :D

[Ill Dottore]

Lol

Thanks for the link

Cheers!

[Max Power]

somehow not having a shotgun nowadays loses the appeal of calling it shotgun......perhaps we should reinstate a shotgun to the front passenger

[callen]

Shotgun is key for me when riding as a passenger in economy cars, since i am 6'3 the back seat is not very comfortable for me. So i know the rules, and make sure I call shot gun always, although if someone is bigger than me(i ve a few friends who are) then the shotgun rule is nul and void. heheh

[DUNKiNUTS]

i used it when i was a kid to keep my sister out off the front seat. :D

[jamberl]

We use it here in oz, everybody knows it. Some people are ignorant of the rules, but when you say it, it has to be acknowledged.

[blah]

I think all us American know Shotgun....Its a way of life, there is only one way to challenge shotgun, and thats fight or Rock, Paper, Scissors.

[jakaracman]

Hmmm. Here it's easier: the tallest person gets to sit in the front ...

[Soarer]

Not that I'm an authority on anything, but I think it came from the 'wild west' days, when people used to travel in stage coaches. Obviously the 'driver' had his hands on the reins all the time, so he needed someone to sit up front with him to use the shotgun, in case they were attacked.
Hence, riding shotgun.

"I am so smart. I am so smart. S*M*R*T, I mean, S*M*A*R*T!

[crayzayjay]

Thanks for the link. Never knew the origin ;)

[AlexBlaster]

Here in the Americas, everyone uses it to claim the most comfortable passenger seat out of shear gluttony. I was also told that in police cars, the shotgun is positioned for the front passanger to grab and use --hence the term shotgun. I guess this could have also evolved from the old western days as explained above.

-alex