under the gun

1. Under pressure to solve a problem or meet a deadline, as in The reporter was under the gun for that article on taxes. This idiom alludes to a gun being pointed at a person to force him or her to act. [Colloquial; c. 1900]

Example Sentences

I am sure that the Washington Redskins changing their name aggrieved the nation’s racists, but the team only conceded after a consortium of sponsors, under the gun of that civic action, implored the team to do so.

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The radiation treatments lasted three months, for five days a week, ten minutes under the gun each time.

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The rule requires that anyone who’s selling kits that can be readily made into an operable firearm has to follow the most important regulations under the Gun Control Act, including putting serial numbers on every gun and doing background checks on every purchaser.

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"These agencies have an internal professional culture. I want to be a good economist, I want to be a good lawyer, I want to be a good scientist, and so that my reputation in the profession is respected. If I'm under the gun all of the time, that's going to put a real damper on how I could actually do my work."

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“I believe I should be here. It’s where I’m supposed to be, so I’m excited to hit golf shots under the gun on the weekend,” Dahmen said.

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