Idiom
ride shotgun
Meanings
To sit in the front passenger seat of a vehicle.
To accompany someone during travel to support, assist, or keep them company.
Definition
To ride in the front passenger seat of a vehicle, usually next to the driver.
To ride shotgun means to sit in the front passenger seat of a car or other vehicle. People often say it when deciding who gets the front seat. It can also suggest accompanying someone to help or keep them company while traveling.
Examples
- I called it first, so I get to ride shotgun.
- Can you ride shotgun and help me navigate?
- She rode shotgun while he drove to the airport.
- We took turns driving, and whoever wasn’t driving got to ride shotgun.
Common mistake
Learners sometimes use it to mean “to drive,” but it specifically means sitting in the front passenger seat (or accompanying), not being the driver.
More at B2 level
- Bob's your uncle Used to say that something will be easy or will happen exactly as expected after a simple step.
- touch base To touch base means to briefly contact someone to share updates, confirm plans, or check progress.
- ballpark figure A ballpark figure is an approximate number or estimate, not an exact one.
- take the mickey To take the mickey means to mock someone or tease them in an unkind or cheeky way.
- cheap as chips Very cheap; costing very little money.
More idioms
- Bob's your uncle Used to say that something will be easy or will happen exactly as expected after a simple step.
- close but no cigar Used to say someone almost succeeded but did not quite achieve the goal.
- down to the wire Used to say something is decided or finished only at the last possible moment.
- lost the plot To become confused or behave in a way that no longer makes sense.
- ducks in a row To have everything organized and ready for action.