shooting one's bolt

Verb

shoot one's bolt (third-person singular simple present shoots one's bolt, present participle shooting one's bolt, simple past and past participle shot one's bolt)

1. (idiomatic) To use up one's resources, especially a singular one or one not readily restored.
   • We were playing checkers and, although I'd started off well, I seemed to have shot my bolt too soon.

   Synonyms:

   blow one's load, shoot one's load, shoot one's wad

2. (slang) Of a male, to ejaculate.
   • ‘Holy-Jesus-fuckin’-Christ! I’m comin’! I’m shootin’ me bolt! I’m gonna fill ya twat with spoof!’1982, Paul Radley, My Blue-Checker Corker and Me, Sydney: Fontana/Collins, page 141