parting shot
nounEtymology Believed to be a variation of Parthian shot, referring to a military maneuver in which Parthian troops retreating on horseback turned back to face the enemy and shot while retreating.
1
Idiomatic An insult or barbed comment issued as the speaker departs or the conversation comes to an end.
- Gold Coast Deputy Mayor David Power took a parting shot at the Crime and Misconduct Commission and his council enemies as he announced his bombshell resignation today.2007 September 18, Greg Stolz, “Power's parting shot at enemies”, in Courier-Mail, Australia:
- 22 March 2012, Scott Tobias, AV Club Cabin Boyhttp://www.avclub.com/articles/cabin-boy,71269/ When news arrives that the school must graduate Nathanial to official “Fancy Lad” status early and put him on the Queen Catherine first class to run the Mayweather in Hawaii, the headmaster dutifully complies, but Nathanial gets in a few parting shots on his way out the door.