shoot one's wad
Originating from the Civil War era, 'shoot one's wad' metaphorically means to exhaust one's resources, similar to a gun firing its last shot.
Definition
C1General
(informal, slang)To use up all of one's resources, efforts, or energy.
Example
- He shot his wad on the first round and had nothing left for the finals.
- Don't shoot your wad too early in the project; pace yourself.
C1Financial
(informal, slang)To spend all of one's money.
Example
- She shot her wad on a shopping spree and now can't afford rent.
- After shooting his wad on the vacation, he had to tighten his budget.
C2Vulgar
(vulgar)For a man, to ejaculate.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "shoot one's wad":
blow one's wadshoot one's loadblow one's loadbust a nutpull one's pudshoot offtoss offpiss one's pantspoop outshoot off at the mouthwet one's pantssqueeze one outsow one's wild oatslet one's nuts hangspill one's gutsempty the clipshoot one's shot