The term Wild West describes life in what is now the western United States way back in the 1800s . Life there was often unpredictable and even , well , wild ! Native Americans already controlled land that white settlers wanted to occupy . So it could be a very dangerous place – for everyone ! Many people carried guns . Life in the Wild West has given us many expressions that will still use today . Some involve things that were widely used back then , like horses and guns . Today we talk about one of them : a shotgun . Shotguns are designed to fire a large number of small metal balls or pellets . A shotgun can hit many objects in a wide area . So , this weapon is good for hunting small moving targets , such as squirrels and birds . This also made the shotgun good for protection . And that is just how settlers used shotguns during this period in American history . At the time , people traveled in stagecoaches and covered wagons , often through dangerous areas . Next to the driver in these vehicles sat a person holding a shotgun . That person's job was to guard against robbers or angry Native Americans . These days , riding shotgun still means you are sitting next to a driver , but without a shotgun . In a vehicle , the seat next to the driver is roomy . Sitting there , you can see the world around you better than people in the back seat . It is easier to talk to the driver . And you have access to the music player and climate controls . So , to guarantee that you get this good seat before a car ride , you can call shotgun . In other words , you are claiming , or calling dibs on , the seat next to the driver . This is a fairly common expression in American English . But it is very casual and somewhat humorous . So , we usually say it only to our very good friends . That would be a sign of bad behavior . The older adult should get to choose where they sit . I would even think twice before calling shotgun with a new group of friends . It could sound childish . Instead I might say , “Would you mind if I sit up front ?”