# fire the starting gun

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/fire-the-starting-gun
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To launch or trigger an event or situation.

## Examples

- The mayor fired the starting gun for the new city project.
- The official announcement fired the starting gun for the busy holiday shopping season in the city.
- The signing of the historic treaty fired the starting gun for a new era of cooperation between the two nations.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.