gun
1a weapon consisting of a metal tube, with mechanical attachments, from which projectiles are shot by the force of an explosive; a piece of ordnance.
any portable firearm, as a rifle, shotgun, or revolver.
a long-barreled cannon having a relatively flat trajectory.
any device for shooting something under pressure: a paint gun; a staple gun.
Slang. a person whose profession is killing; professional killer: a gangland gun.
British. a member of a shooting party.
Slang.
(esp. in baseball) a player’s throwing arm.
guns, the biceps or triceps of the arms: his big, muscular guns.
to shoot with a gun (often followed by down): The guards gunned down the fleeing convict.
to cause (an engine, vehicle, aircraft, etc.) to increase in speed very quickly by increasing the supply of fuel.
to hunt with a gun.
to shoot with a gun.
gun for,
to seek with intent to harm or kill.
to seek; try earnestly to obtain: He is gunning for a raise.
Idioms about gun
give the gun, Slang. to put into motion or speed up: We gave the motor the gun and drove off.
jump the gun, Slang.
to begin a race before the starting signal.
to begin prematurely; act too hastily.
spike someone's guns, to frustrate or prevent someone from accomplishing a plan: Our competitors planned a surprise reduction in their rates, but we discovered it and were able to spike their guns.
stick to one's guns, to maintain one's position in the face of opposition; stand firm: They stuck to their guns and refused to submit.: Also stand by one's guns.
under the gun, under pressure, as to meet a deadline or solve a problem: We're all under the gun with these new sales quotas.
Origin of gun
1Other words from gun
- gunless, adjective
Words Nearby gun
Other definitions for gun (2 of 3)
past participle of gin3.
Other definitions for gun. (3 of 3)
gunnery.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use gun in a sentence
Federal prosecutors said he acquired 144 guns between 2013 and 2019 and transferred 98 of them to others.
Morning Report: The Dreaded Purple Tier | Voice of San Diego | September 16, 2020 | Voice of San DiegoHowever, finding the “smoking gun” — catching a simultaneous neutrino and radio burst from the same magnetar — will be challenging because such neutrinos would be rare and hard to find, says astrophysicist Brian Metzger of Columbia University.
Neutrinos could reveal how fast radio bursts are launched | Lisa Grossman | September 16, 2020 | Science NewsA statewide reporting project that included VOSD and dozens of other newsrooms last year found that California was only one of five states without uniform regulations for taking a police officer’s badge and gun away.
Morning Report: Hotel Workers Want Their Jobs Back | Voice of San Diego | September 8, 2020 | Voice of San DiegoFrom the high schoolers in Parkland and beyond, this generation has been the most outspoken about the need for gun control.
For example, you could assume all independent first-time Minnesota voters who have liked the Bass Pro Shop are likely to care about gun rights.
Why Facebook’s political-ad ban is taking on the wrong problem | Tate Ryan-Mosley | September 6, 2020 | MIT Technology Review
“You can imagine the sound of that gun on a Bronx street,” Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce says.
That act forever sealed his feeling for the Chief, bound it up with the war, with violence, with the gun.
The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile | Robert Ward | January 3, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTI mean, the reality of it was, I had to go out and get on a horse, and ride in, shoot the gun — how hard was that, right?
The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile | Robert Ward | January 3, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTThey were the machine gun bullets coming from the ambush when my company got hit.
The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile | Robert Ward | January 3, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTFrias—who was arrested in 2013 for interfering with public duties and public intoxication—was not carrying a gun at the time.
Texas Gun Slingers Police the Police—With a Black Panthers Tactic | Brandy Zadrozny | January 2, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTThis was no strange sight to the boy by that time, but it was awkward in the circumstances, for he had neither gun nor spear.
The Giant of the North | R.M. BallantyneHe turned at the sound of my voice with vastly more concern than he'd betrayed under the muzzle of Piegan's gun.
Raw Gold | Bertrand W. SinclairHe was a good judge of men, that eagle-faced major; he knew that the slightest move with hostile intent would mean a smoking gun.
Raw Gold | Bertrand W. SinclairHere Robinson suddenly turned pale, and, hastily reaching out for his gun, sprang to his feet.
Davy and The Goblin | Charles E. CarrylI begged him to come down here, but he wouldn't—says that his hand is no longer steady enough to hold a gun—it's awful!
Ancestors | Gertrude Atherton
British Dictionary definitions for gun
/ (ɡʌn) /
a weapon with a metallic tube or barrel from which a missile is discharged, usually by force of an explosion. It may be portable or mounted. In a military context the term applies specifically to a flat-trajectory artillery piece
(as modifier): a gun barrel
the firing of a gun as a salute or signal, as in military ceremonial
a member of or a place in a shooting party or syndicate
any device used to project something under pressure: a grease gun; a spray gun
US slang an armed criminal; gunman
Australian and NZ slang
an expert
(as modifier): a gun shearer; a gun batsman
go great guns slang to act or function with great speed, intensity, etc
jump the gun or beat the gun
(of a runner, etc) to set off before the starting signal is given
informal to act prematurely
spike someone's guns See spike 1 (def. 15)
stick to one's guns informal to maintain one's opinions or intentions in spite of opposition
(when tr, often foll by down) to shoot (someone) with a gun
(tr) to press hard on the accelerator of (an engine): to gun the engine of a car
(intr) to hunt with a gun
Origin of gun
1- See also gun for
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with gun
In addition to the idiom beginning with gun
- gun for
- gung ho
also see:
- at gunpoint
- big cheese (gun)
- great guns
- hired gun
- hold a gun to someone's head
- jump the gun
- smoking gun
- son of a bitch (gun)
- stick to one's guns
- under the gun
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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