gun for

verb

1. to search for in order to reprimand, punish, or kill

2. to try earnestly for

   he was gunning for promotion

Idioms and Phrases

Pursue relentlessly so as to overcome or destroy. For example, He was sure they were gunning for him and asked for police protection , or The senator felt that the reporters were gunning for him with that article about his brother . [ Slang ; late 1800s]

Go after in earnest, try hard to obtain. For example, He's been gunning for a raise all year . [ Slang ; mid-1900s]

Related Words

• check 
• comb 
• examine 
• explore 
• go through 
• hunt 
• hunt for www.thesaurus.com
• inspect 
• investigate 
• look 
• probe 
• ransack 
• scan 
• scour 
• scout 
• scrutinize 
• seek 
• sift