point-blank
English
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point-blank
Where it comes from
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.
adjective point blank · pointblank
- Very close; not touching but not more than a few metres (yards).
- 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. 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.
- Disconcertingly straightforward or blunt; outright. a point-blank assertion
adverb point blank · pointblank
- In a direct manner, without hesitation. 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; […]
Translations
Every language
adj so close that a weapon may be aimed directly at its target
| Español | a bocajarro, a quemarropa |
|---|---|
| 中文 | 近距離 /近距离 jìnjùlí, 抵近 dǐjìn |
| Português | a queima-roupa |
| Français | de but en blanc, à bout portant |
| Italiano | a bruciapelo |
| Русский | в упо́р v upór |
adj disconcertingly straightforward or blunt
| 中文 | 直截了當 /直截了当 zhíjiéliǎodāng, 斷然 /断然 duànrán, 乾脆 /干脆 gāncuì |
|---|---|
| Français | à brûle-pourpoint |
| Italiano | a bruciapelo |
| Русский | напрями́к naprjamík, напряму́ю naprjamúju |
adv in a direct manner, without hesitation
| Español | a bocajarro, a quemarropa |
|---|---|
| 中文 | 直截了當 /直截了当 zhíjiéliǎodāng, 斷然 /断然 duànrán, 乾脆 /干脆 gāncuì |
| Français | à brûle-pourpoint, de but en blanc |
| Italiano | a bruciapelo |
Talk about this word "point-blank." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/point-blank. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. point-blank. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/point-blank "point-blank." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/point-blank.Cite this
@misc{point_blank_2026,
title = {point-blank},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/point-blank},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
