give it the gun
To cause a specific vehicle to accelerate; to open the throttle of an engine.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“Give it the gun so we can pass this slow truck.”
“When the light turned green, he gave it the gun to merge quickly onto the busy highway.”
“Realizing the storm was closing in rapidly, the pilot gave it the gun to gain altitude and clear the mountain pass before visibility dropped.”
Originally from the US.
- 01
big gun
A person, group, thing, or course of action that is powerful, influential, or particularly effective.
- 02
don't give up your day job
Somewhat sarcastic but usually good-natured advice used to criticise a person's degree of talent (especially in music or other performing arts), implying that they are unlikely to be successful.
- 03
eat one's gun
To commit suicide, especially by use of a firearm discharged into the victim's mouth.
- 04
fire the starting gun
To launch or trigger an event or situation.
- 05
give a damn
To be concerned about, have an interest in, to care (about something).
- 06
give a fuck
To care; to give a shit.
- 07
give a good account of oneself
To act in a creditable manner.
- 08
give a hang
give a hoot; give a damn (to care about; to place value on something)
Last updated August 10, 2026