Point-blank

Posted by ESC on February 16, 2004

In Reply to: Point-blank posted by Muhammad Imran on February 16, 2004

: Can someone explain me the idiom point-blank.
: Following is the dialog where I came across it for the ist time.
: S1- I am upset.Somebody told my boss I have a part time job.
: S2-And he doesn't like that?
: S1-No, he doesn't.He thinks I am too tired to work.
: S2-I am sorry.I have to admit I told him.
: S1- You told him? why?
: S2-I couldn't help it.He asked me point-blank.

It means he asked a direct question. From Merriam-Webster online:

One entry found for point-blank.

Main Entry: point-blank
Pronunciation: 'point-'bla[ng]k
Function: adjective
1 a : marked by no appreciable drop below initial horizontal line of flight b : so close to a target that a missile fired will travel in a straight line to the mark
2 : DIRECT, BLUNT A point-blank refusal.
- point-blank adverb

• Point-blank James Briggs 17/February/04