Phrasal verb
gun for
Definition
phrasal verb. to try very hard to get something, like a job or a prize, or to try to cause trouble for someone.
phrasal verb. to pursue a goal or position with great determination; alternatively, to target someone for criticism, defeat, or removal from a position.
Examples
“She is gunning for the manager's job.”
“After the scandal, several rival politicians were gunning for the minister's resignation.”
“Having secured the regional title, the young athlete is now gunning for an Olympic gold medal in the upcoming summer games.”
Examples
simple
“She is gunning for the manager's job.”
contextual
“After the scandal, several rival politicians were gunning for the minister's resignation.”
complex
“Having secured the regional title, the young athlete is now gunning for an Olympic gold medal in the upcoming summer games.”
Usage
usually followed by a noun representing a desired goal or a person being targeted.
Teaching tip
explain the metaphorical link to aiming a weapon to help students remember the intensity of the pursuit or the aggressive nature of the targeting.
Pitfall
He is gunning to the promotion.
He is gunning for the promotion.
the verb must be followed by the preposition 'for' to indicate the target or goal.
Phrasal verb
Particles
for
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
gun + for + object
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/gun-for