How do you use "Smoking gun" in a sentence?

The emails were the smoking gun that proved the cover-up. Investigators are still looking for the smoking gun in the case. The financial records are the smoking gun — they show fraud.

Smoking gun

Q: What does "Smoking gun" mean?

Undeniable evidence that proves guilt or wrongdoing. The definitive piece of evidence that proves someone did something — like finding a person holding a literally smoking gun at a crime scene. Used widely in politics, law, and everyday speech.

American Slang Term American ★★★★★ Very Common Casual

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Meaning: Undeniable evidence that proves guilt or wrongdoing.

证明有罪或不当行为的确凿证据。铁证。

Prueba irrefutable que demuestra culpabilidad o un acto ilícito.

有罪や不正を証明する決定的な証拠。動かぬ証拠。

유죄나 비리를 증명하는 결정적인 증거. 움직일 수 없는 증거.

The definitive piece of evidence that proves someone did something — like finding a person holding a literally smoking gun at a crime scene. Used widely in politics, law, and everyday speech.

能够证明某人做了某事的决定性证据——就像在犯罪现场发现一个人手持还在冒烟的枪。广泛用于政治、法律和日常用语中。

La prueba definitiva que demuestra que alguien hizo algo, como encontrar a una persona sujetando un arma literalmente humeante en la escena del crimen. Se usa ampliamente en política, derecho y en el habla cotidiana.

誰かが何かをしたことを証明する決定的な証拠——犯行現場で文字通り煙の出ている銃を持っている人を見つけることに由来。政治、法律、日常会話で幅広く使われる。

누군가의 행위를 증명하는 최종적인 증거 — 마치 범죄 현장에서 연기 나는 총을 들고 있는 사람을 발견하는 것과 같다. 정치, 법률, 일상 대화에서 폭넓게 사용된다.

Examples

The emails were the smoking gun that proved the cover-up.
那些邮件是证明掩盖真相的铁证。
Los correos electrónicos fueron la prueba irrefutable del encubrimiento.
そのメールが隠蔽工作を証明する動かぬ証拠だった。
그 이메일이 은폐 공작을 증명하는 결정적인 증거였다.
Investigators are still looking for the smoking gun in the case.
调查人员仍在寻找此案的决定性证据。
Los investigadores siguen buscando la prueba definitiva del caso.
捜査官はまだ事件の決定的証拠を探している。
수사관들은 아직 이 사건의 결정적인 증거를 찾고 있다.
The financial records are the smoking gun — they show fraud.
那份财务记录就是铁证——证明了存在欺诈。
Los registros financieros son la prueba concluyente — demuestran el fraude.
その財務記録が動かぬ証拠だ——詐欺を示している。
그 재무 기록이 결정적인 증거다 — 사기를 입증한다.

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: investigations, politics, arguments

Tone: decisive, damning

✓ Do Say

That's the smoking gun.
那就是铁证。
Esa es la prueba irrefutable.
それが動かぬ証拠だ。
그게 결정적인 증거야.
They found the smoking gun.
他们找到了铁证。
Encontraron la prueba definitiva.
決定的証拠が見つかった。
결정적인 증거를 찾았어.

✗ Don't Say

Claiming to have a smoking gun when you don't undermines credibility.
声称拥有铁证却拿不出来会损害你的信誉。
Afirmar que tienes una prueba irrefutable cuando no la tienes socava tu credibilidad.
動かぬ証拠があると主張して実際にはないと、信頼性を損なう。
결정적인 증거가 있다고 주장해놓고 실제로 없으면 신뢰를 잃는다.

Origin & History

From Sherlock Holmes stories — the idea of catching someone with a gun that has just been fired. The phrase became famous during the Watergate scandal (1974).

Cultural Context

Era: 1970s–present

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Regional notes: All regions — universal American idiom