pot shot

• potshot

1858, shot taken for the (cooking) pot, namely for food; see pothunter.[1] Sense “opportunistic criticism” from 1926.[1]

pot shot (plural pot shots)

1. A haphazard shot with a firearm, taken with careless aim, often fired at a random target.
2. A shot taken from a hidden stakeout.
3. By analogy, insulting or hurtful words carelessly or randomly said; opportunistic attack, especially criticism.
   • 2007, The Observer,

     Why should Jonathan, Ruth and all the others have to stay out there like sitting ducks as policemen and their smug reporter friends took pot shots at them?

• pothunter

• hot pots, hot spot, hotpots, hotspot