[Ads-l] money shot

[Jonathan Lighter]

HDAS found a derivative sense from 1977.  The basic sense seems to be "a
shot (in any sense) likely or deserving of bringing in money."

A winning or exceptionally accurate golf shot:

1921 _Evening Public Ledger_ (Phila._  (Feb. 8) 16: Miller got home with a
screaming iron, the best shot of the day." ... "That is a money shot,"
explained Maxwell...."Right in the bank."

1960 _Progress-Bulletin_ (Pomona, Calif.) (Jan. 10) III 1: [Caption:] MONTI
"MONEY SHOT" - Eric Monti of Los Angeles rifles an iron shot out of the
rough on the first hole Saturday in the L.A. Open.  The ball stopped three
feet from the cup but his putt for a birdie refused to drop.

1960 _Salt Lake Tribune_ (Sept. 13) 16: Billy climaxed his tremendous round
with a great eagle on No. 18. This was the money shot. It meant $2,800 to
the Provo pro.

"A chance to make much money, as in a boxing match":

1940 _Cumberland [Md.] News_ (Jan. 24) 13: He never won a fight in this
country, but I got him a couple of great money shots just like he was a
winner.

1960 _Press-Democrat_ (Santa Rosa, Calif.) (March 11)  13: Gonsalves
retired after a recent loss to Paolo Rossi, but announced later he was
always available for "money shots."

It's hard to look for because of the preponderance of "an even-money shot"
(a fifty-fifty bet or chance) and "big money shot" (a chance for big money).

JL


-- 
"If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the truth."

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