not be able to hit the broad side of a barn

verb

To have very poor aim, such as while using firearms or in sports.

“No, I am really not good at batting in baseball. I cannot hit the broad side of a barn, really.”

Similar
not hit a cow's arse with a banjo
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Meanings

verbnot be able to hit the broad side of a barn (third-person singular simple present cannot hit the broad side of a barn, no present participle, simple past could not hit the broad side of a barn, no past participle)

present singular third person cannot hit the broad side of a barn · past could not hit the broad side of a barn

  1. idiomaticinformalno past participleno present participleTo have very poor aim, such as while using firearms or in sports.

    No, I am really not good at batting in baseball. I cannot hit the broad side of a barn, really.

    1 more example

    The new recruit is absolutely worthless with a rifle. Blimey, she wouldn't be able to hit the broad side of a barn if I asked her to.

    Synonyms: not hit a cow's arse with a banjo

Synonyms & antonyms

verbTo have very poor aim, such as while using firearms or in sports.

Similar
not hit a cow's arse with a banjo
Also see
not hit a cow's arse with a banjo

Translations

Hebrew לא להיות מסוגל לפגוע בקיר של אסם, לא להצליח לקלוע אפילו לקיר של אסם
  • לא להיות מסוגל לפגוע בקיר של אסםhave very poor aim
  • לא להצליח לקלוע אפילו לקיר של אסםhave very poor aim
Cite this entry
APA

not be able to hit the broad side of a barn. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/not%20be%20able%20to%20hit%20the%20broad%20side%20of%20a%20barn

MLA

“not be able to hit the broad side of a barn.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/not%20be%20able%20to%20hit%20the%20broad%20side%20of%20a%20barn. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “not be able to hit the broad side of a barn,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/not%20be%20able%20to%20hit%20the%20broad%20side%20of%20a%20barn.

Source: not be able to hit the broad side of a barn on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.