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Thu 20 Jan, 2011 05:29 am
I'm a screenwriter working on a story in which I have very minimal vulgarity. I have a line where the narrator says: "The therapist was sweet, but my leg was shot." Referring to an incident where the physical therapist was trying to make him feel better about the slow recovery from his injuries. When I originally wrote the line, what I would have said was: "The therapist was sweet, but my leg was fucked." I use the word shot in everyday speech, but I don't think most people do. How weird or unweird does that sound. And is there any better way to say it?
Your avatar picture is creepy.
@MrIVI,
It CAN be said:
"The therapist was sweet, but my leg was shot"
if the
context makes it clear that "shot" means
rendered into a useless condition.
If not, then your sentence is ambiguous.
David
It does sound a little '60's, kind of like the word, "cool"
Surely you can find a street slang term that means the same as FUBAR.
http://www.urbandictionary.com/?page=2
"Trashed" maybe?
"Trashed" seems to be the current word for something that is hopelessly broken.
@MrIVI,
I see nothing wrong with the word "shot". I certainly wouldn't think twice if someone used this phrase. I don't think "trashed" is a good choice in this context. The word "trashed" is better used for something that has been made into a mess, i.e. a room or a plan. "Trashed" doesn't convey the meaning of "broken" or "rendered useless".
Personally, I would stick with "fucked".
Yes, it's the perfect word, but can you use it? (I didn't understand the "have" vulgarity)
totally screwed up
gone
@MrIVI,
Shot is just fine to describe something that has somehow become useless. On your car, if the bearings are shot, you've got a major overhaul or engine replacement coming up. If the alternator is shot, just replace it.
Shot in that context sounds fine to me.
@PUNKEY,
I had a tone of great responses on this, but GONE is pure simple genius! Thanks PUNKEY!
@MrIVI,
I think the term shot sounds fine in terms of the actor being able to produce the proper emphasis. If it were a book, it might sound a little corny.
I not only oftentimes use "shot" in such a context, at other times i even use the original expression--"shot my bolt"--although not in a phrase structured such as this. So you'll know, the expression dates back nearly a thousand years. Someone using a steel backed crossbow has to wind it up before another quarrel can be placed and the weapon fired again. He is therefore extremely vulnerable, just after he has "shot his bolt."
@Setanta,
Setanta wrote:
I not only oftentimes use "shot" in such a context, at other times i even use the original expression--"shot my bolt"--although not in a phrase structured such as this. So you'll know, the expression dates back nearly a thousand years. Someone using a steel backed crossbow has to wind it up before another quarrel can be placed and the weapon fired again. He is therefore extremely vulnerable, just after he has "shot his bolt."
shot my bolt sounds like it means the same as cleaned my pipes.
@OmSigDAVID,
Yes, that was my thought too.
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