The opposite of point-blank is hanging fire , `undecided, up in the air.
( ( ( The opposite ) ( of point-blank ) ) ( ( ( ( ( ( ( is ( hanging fire ) ) , ) ` ) undecided ) , ) ( up ( in ( the air ) ) ) ) . ) )
(ROOT (S (NP (NP (DT The) (NN opposite)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NN point-blank)))) (VP (VBZ is) (VP (VBG hanging) (NP (NN fire))) (, ,) (`` `) (ADJP (JJ undecided)) (, ,) (ADVP (RB up) (PP (IN in) (NP (DT the) (NN air))))) (. .)))
Hanging fires are not a good thing. 
( ( Hanging fires ) ( ( ( are not ) ( a ( good thing ) ) ) . ) )
(ROOT (S (NP (VBG Hanging) (NNS fires)) (VP (VBP are) (RB not) (NP (DT a) (JJ good) (NN thing))) (. .)))