Bomb[]

Bomb out[]

Sit on a bomb[]

To sit on a bomb was to be in a situation that was liable to become dangerous in the near future.

When the Enterprise was having malfunctions that paralleled those on the Yamato that eventually destroyed it, Geordi commented, "We're sitting on a bomb that could go off any second, or maybe never." (TNG: "Contagion")

Bow and arrow[]

Cupid's arrow[]

Bullet[]

Put a bullet into[]

Cannon[]

Cannon fodder[]

Loose cannon[]

Gun[]

Gunning for someone[]

Meant that someone was out to get you.

(ENT: "Anomaly (ENT)"

(TAS: "The Practical Joker")

Hired gun[]

Jumping the gun[]

Lock, stock, and barrel[]

Meant completely.

Riker commented that he, Worf, and Data had bought the Royale lock, stock, and barrel. (TNG: "The Royale")

Shotgun wedding[]

A shotgun wedding was a wedding that was hasty and often done for pragmatic reasons.

Picard said that the Bringloidi and Mariposans would require a shotgun wedding in order for the Mariposans to acquire breeding stock. (TNG: "Up The Long Ladder")

Shot in the dark[]

A shot in the dark was a guess whose outcome could not be foreseen.

Geordi's idea to try to disrupt the Borg's subspace field was a shot in the dark, but it was the best idea he could come up with. (TNG: "The Best of Both Worlds")

Smoking gun[]

Son of a gun[]

Sword[]

Speak with one's sword[]

Meant one's reply would be in the form of swordplay rather than words.

In Reginald Barclay's fantasy holoprogram, he answered Data's suggestion he yield while fencing and Barclay replied, "I will speak with my sword, sir." (TNG: "Hollow Pursuits")

Sword of Damocles[]

Trigger[]

Fast on the trigger[]

Hair trigger[]

Pull the trigger[]

Trigger (something in) someone[]

Secret weapon[]

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