An insult to someone's intelligence or ability, or describing an individual who is struggling to keep up with the rest of the
pack
. A 'cold
shot' refers to a steam-catapult launch from an aircraft carrier when the steam pressure is too
low for the launch weight of the aircraft; on reaching the end of the
deck, the aircraft is going too slowly for safe flight and may drop dramatically, or even (in extreme cases) ditch. If ditching is avoided, there follows an agonisingly
slow climb away with the handle jammed forward and all the gauges pegged in a desperate attempt to gain height and speed.
"So what's the new guy like, any good ?"
"
Man, he's flying off a cold
shot."
"How's the training going ?"
"I feel like I'm flying off a cold
shot"