a parting shot

[vil]

Dear teachers,

Would you be kind enough to give me your considered opinion concerning the interpretation of the expression in bold in the following sentence?

Olney got up to go, but turned at the door ad delivering a parting shot.
“You leave Martin alone, Ruth. He knows what’s best for himself.” (J. London, “Martin Eden”)

a parting shot = a last arrow, shoot whilst appeared to retreat

V.

[Tdol]

It doesn't have to imply retreating or even appearing to- it could be delivered confidently while just leaving, but I haven't read the book so can't say for this particular context.

[Rover_KE]

I doubt he fired an arrow.

It's a metaphor, meaning

'a final remark, usually cutting or derogatory, made just before departing'.

(The Phrase Finder)

Rover

[vil]

I doubt he fired an arrow.

I’ll try to put an end to all your doubt adducing a few probably “unknown” to you synonyms of “shoot” namely shoot = fling, hurl, launch, dart

This was not anonymous - it was signed by Harold Smith - yet Henry could not have believed him capable of so stupid or so spiteful a parting shot. (A. J. Cronin, The Northern Light")

Let us assume that your “final remark” is my “last arrow”.

V.

[BobK]

The arrow is a reference to a disputed origin of the expression: Parthian shot - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

b