jump the gun

1. 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]

Example Sentences

Trump has reason to jump the gun on taking credit for the economy now: It’s doing amazingly well.

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Further questions were raised last week when the British military seemed to jump the gun in announcing Kate would attend a Trooping the Color ceremony in June, apparently without consulting palace officials.

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Prior to the vote, McCarthy argued that Schiff's censure was a reason why they shouldn't jump the gun on impeachment articles, according to The Hill.

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"We do not want to jump the gun on an announcement but I think it is quite likely that it will be a significant investment in our relationship with India," he told reporters.

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He was so eager to jump the gun that he whipped out classified documents for small potatoes political grievances.

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