great guns

adverb

1. Informal.,  in a relentlessly energetic or successful manner.

   The new president has the company going great guns.

interjection

1. (used as an expression of surprise, astonishment, etc.)

Word History and Origins

Origin of great guns¹

First recorded in 1870–75

Idioms and Phrases

Very energetically or successfully. This colloquial expression usually occurs in the phrase go great guns , as in They're going great guns with those drawings . The expression comes from British naval slang of the late 1700s, when blowing great guns meant a violent gale. Harry Truman used the term in Dear Bess (1945): “We have been going great guns in the last day or two.”

great gun . Also big gun . An important person, as in All the great guns came to the reception . This usage is heard less often today. [ Slang ; early 1800s] Also see big cheese .

Great guns ! An expletive expressing surprise or astonishment, as in Great guns! You're not leaving now? [Late 1800s]

Example Sentences

Mr Haller said that at the beginning of last year "manufacturing was going great guns" but after an expected pause around the general election, activity has failed to pick up.

Read more on BBC

“Things are going great guns and we’re having so much fun,” MacLachlan says.

Read more on Seattle Times

Every time the great guns fired, Isaac said he jumped off the ground.

Read more on Literature

"It's all been going great guns and we've all been doing lots of publicity and interviews and writing articles for the papers and stuff, all at the behest of the Agatha Christie estate," McDermid told the Edinburgh International Book Festival.

Read more on BBC

“Japan Inc.” was going great guns.

Read more on New York Times