/ˈʃuːtɪŋ ðə laɪts aʊt/ verb phrase
Definition: Used to describe a totally fun event that is coming up in the future (alternately, “we shot the lights out that night”)
Etymology
An expression used by 90 year old Laura Leonard Ault, after 65 days in isolation due to Covid, on what she’s going to do next year to celebrate a friend’s birthday.
Usage
Context: Used to build anticipation for an upcoming event or to summarize a past success with “plain language” enthusiasm. It suggests an environment of high “rigor” in planning that resulted in a “low-friction,” high-reward outcome. When used for the future, it serves as a confident prediction of success.
In a sentence: “We have the whole team coming in for the gallery opening next week; we’re going to be shooting the lights out.”