Point-blank

adj, adv

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    Very close; not touching but not more than a few metres (yards). not-comparable
  2. 2
    The distance between a firearm and a target where a projectile in flight is expected to strike the centre of the target without adjusting the elevation of the firearm. not-comparable

    "Now, here's a useful tool—.470, telescopic sight, double ejector, point-blank up to three-fifty. That's the rifle I used against the Peruvian slave-drivers three years ago."

  3. 3
    Disconcertingly straightforward or blunt; outright. not-comparable

    "a point-blank assertion"

Adjective
  1. 1
    close enough to go straight to the target wordnet
  2. 2
    characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion wordnet
Adverb
  1. 1
    In a direct manner, without hesitation. not-comparable

    "One day, when he was doing some valuation for me, he told me point-blank that clergymen seldom understood anything about business, and did mischief when they meddled; […]"

Adverb
  1. 1
    in a direct and unequivocal manner wordnet

Etymology

Etymology 1

From French point blanc (“white point”), originally referring to the white spot to be aimed at on a target (see blank's "bull's eye") or alternatively into empty space being fired horizontally.

Etymology 2

From French point blanc (“white point”), originally referring to the white spot to be aimed at on a target (see blank's "bull's eye") or alternatively into empty space being fired horizontally.

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