How do you use "Riding shotgun" in a sentence?

I call shotgun!' (Claiming the front seat) Who's riding shotgun? She always rides shotgun on road trips.

Riding shotgun

Q: What does "Riding shotgun" mean?

Sitting in the front passenger seat of a car. The privilege of sitting in the front passenger seat—from the Old West practice of having an armed guard sit next to the stagecoach driver.

Slang Term AmericanBritishAustralian ★★★★☆ Common Casual

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Meaning: Sitting in the front passenger seat of a car.

坐在汽车前排副驾驶座。

Sentarse en el asiento del copiloto.

車の助手席に座ること。

차의 조수석에 앉는 것

The privilege of sitting in the front passenger seat—from the Old West practice of having an armed guard sit next to the stagecoach driver.

坐在副驾驶座的特权。源自美国西部拓荒时代，武装护卫坐在马车驾驶员旁边的做法。

El privilegio de sentarse en el asiento del copiloto. Proviene de la práctica del Viejo Oeste de tener un guardia armado junto al conductor de la diligencia.

助手席に座る特権。西部開拓時代に、武装した護衛が駅馬車の御者の隣に座っていた慣習が語源。

조수석에 앉는 특권을 말하며, 서부 시대에 역마차 운전사 옆에 무장 경비가 앉았던 관습에서 유래했다.

Literal meaning: Sitting with a shotgun to guard

Examples

I call shotgun!' (Claiming the front seat)
副驾是我的！
¡Yo voy de copiloto!
助手席は俺のもの！
조수석은 내 거야!
Who's riding shotgun?
谁坐副驾？
¿Quién va de copiloto?
誰が助手席に乗る？
누가 조수석에 탈 거야?
She always rides shotgun on road trips.
她自驾旅行时总是坐副驾。
Ella siempre va de copiloto en los viajes por carretera.
ロードトリップではいつも彼女が助手席だ。
그녀는 장거리 여행에서 항상 조수석에 앉는다.

Pronunciation

/ˈraɪdɪŋ ˈʃɒtɡʌn/

Usage Guide

Context: car travel, seating, road trips

Tone: casual, playful

✓ Do Say

I call shotgun!
副驾是我的！
¡Yo voy de copiloto!
助手席は俺の！
조수석은 내 거야!
Riding shotgun.
坐副驾。
Ir de copiloto.
助手席に乗る。
조수석에 타다.
Who's got shotgun?
谁坐副驾？
¿Quién va de copiloto?
誰が助手席？
누가 조수석이야?

✗ Don't Say

Front seat
不要用'front seat'来代替'riding shotgun'，这是一个有趣味的俚语表达
No se dice simplemente 'front seat' en lugar de 'riding shotgun', que es una expresion coloquial con mas personalidad
「riding shotgun」の代わりに単に「front seat」とは言わない。スラングなのでカジュアルな場面で使う
앞좌석
Passenger seat
'passenger seat'是正式说法，'riding shotgun'更口语化、更有画面感
'Passenger seat' es la forma formal; 'riding shotgun' es informal y tiene mas gracia
「passenger seat」は正式な言い方で「riding shotgun」とは違うニュアンスがある
조수석 (단순 표현)

Common Mistakes

'Calling shotgun' is a tradition to claim the seat
American origin but now universal

Origin & History

From stagecoach days when an armed guard sat beside the driver for protection.

Etymology: American Old West, 19th century

First recorded: 1910s (current meaning)

Cultural Context

Era: 19th century origin, 20th century current usage

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Pop culture: American road movies; Family car trips

Regional notes: American origin, now used in British and Australian English.

Variations

Riding shotgunCall shotgunShotgun!