Meanings
nounboth barrels pl (plural only)
- figurativelyinformalpluralplural onlyThe maximum damage that a weapon can deliver.
to give someone both barrels
3 more examples
to let someone have both barrels
to hit someone with both barrels
Rightwing media mouthpieces and ICE get both barrels in South Park’s latest zeitgeist-capturing satire.
2025 August 7, Zach Vasquez, “From puppy murder to racist podcasts: South Park’s anti-deportation episode is utterly ruthless TV”, in The Guardian, →ISSN
Origin
In reference to discharging both barrels of a double-barrelled shotgun simultaneously rather than one at a time.
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
APA
both barrels. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/both%20barrels
MLA
“both barrels.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/both%20barrels. Accessed November 4, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “both barrels,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/both%20barrels.
Source: both barrels on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.