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pistol

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fire (one's) pistol in the air

1. In a duel, to shoot one's firearm into the air to avoid injuring the other party. A: "Did I just hear a gunshot? Is the duel over?" B: "Sir Edmund fired his pistol into the air, so Master William is unscathed."

2. To avoid harshly criticizing or otherwise hurting someone during an argument or debate. I usually fire my pistol in the air in these sorts of debates—I hate hurting people's feelings.

See also: air, fire, pistol

jump the gun

Fig. to start before the starting signal. (Originally used in sports contests that are started by firing a gun.) We all had to start the race again because Jane jumped the gun. When we took the test, Tom jumped the gun and started early.

See also: gun, jump

jump the gun

to do something before it should be done We do not want to jump the gun by making a statement about what caused the explosion before the investigation is completed.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of jump the gun (to begin to run a race before the gun that signals the start has been shot)

See also: gun, jump

jump the gun

to do something too soon, especially without thinking carefully about it

Usage notes: If someone running in a race jumps the gun, they start running before the gun has been fired to start the race.

He shouted at me before I had time to explain, but later he apologised for jumping the gun.

See also: gun, jump

jump the gun

Start doing something too soon, act too hastily. For example, The local weather bureau jumped the gun on predicting a storm; it didn't happen for another two days . This expression alludes to starting a race before the starter's gun has gone off, and supplants the earlier beat the pistol, which dates from about 1900. [Mid-1900s]

See also: gun, jump

jump the gun

tv. to start too soon; to start before the starting signal. The secretary jumped the gun and gave out the letters too soon.

See also: gun, jump

pistol

n. a person who is bright, quick, or energetic. (Implying hot as a pistol or quick as a pistol.) Ask that pistol to step over here for a minute, would you?

jump the gun

To start doing something too soon.

See also: gun, jump