The GOP has blown its chances on health care.

At least, that's what Sen. Orrin Hatch told Politico last week. Using a bit of colorful metaphor, the Utah Republican said Congress has moved to focus its efforts on tax reform after a failed Republican push last month to repeal and replace former President Barack Obama's health care law.

"As far as I'm concerned, they shot their wad on health care and that's the way it is. I'm sick of it," Hatch said.

The quote, which appeared in a Politico story posted Monday, raised some eyebrows on social media.

I think I speak for all 7.4 billion people alive today in saying nobody wants to hear Orrin Hatch talk about shooting his wad. https://t.co/uMbbdIX6L6 — Jeet Heer (@HeerJeet) August 7, 2017

But the senator's office defended his use of the phrase, even providing a brief history lesson.

"As few of you were alive during the Civil War, here's a valuable jargon lesson on 'wads' and the shooting of them," Hatch's office tweeted, along with a link and screenshot to an explanation of the root of the phrase.

As few of you were alive during the Civil War, here's a valuable jargon lesson on "wads" and the shooting of them. https://t.co/dOYvcfgImO pic.twitter.com/wk9aaNb3s2 — Senator Hatch Office (@senorrinhatch) August 7, 2017