jump the gun
To act or begin too soon or without due caution.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“Don't jump the gun before you know all the facts.”
“I bought the plane tickets before my boss approved my vacation, so I really jumped the gun.”
“Investors often jump the gun by purchasing shares based on rumors rather than waiting for the official quarterly financial report.”
- 01
big gun
A person, group, thing, or course of action that is powerful, influential, or particularly effective.
- 02
eat one's gun
To commit suicide, especially by use of a firearm discharged into the victim's mouth.
- 03
fire the starting gun
To launch or trigger an event or situation.
- 04
give it the gun
To cause a specific vehicle to accelerate; to open the throttle of an engine.
- 05
go great guns
To perform particularly well; to be particularly successful.
- 06
go jump in the lake
Used to tell someone to go away, or that their request will not be met.
- 07
go jump off a building
Used to tell someone to go away, or that their request will not be met.
- 08
go jump off a cliff
Used to tell someone to go away, or that their request will not be met.
Last updated August 10, 2026