shoot from the hip

an expression which suggests the described person
a. speaks or behaves in a brusque, honest fashion
b. does not censor their actions or words
c. speaks tersely; communicates with the fewest number of words

cf. to be brutally honest; to tell it like it is; to pull no punches

deriv. (Old West--when a person who 'shot from the hip' pulled their trigger in a proper draw (ie from a hip holster.) This is in direct contrast to a person who arrived to the gunfight with guns drawn. By extension, a person who 'shoots from the hip' possesses the positive quality of handling a situation in the prescribed mode.)

I really like Vin Diesel's character; he sure shoots from the hip, boy!

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