under the gun

Idioms  

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]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

under the gun

Financials had been under the gun for most of the past year, and when compared with the S&P 500, they had reached a historic low in early June.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 2, 2026

If automakers like GM were under the gun to go electric again, it would likely be a costly reversal for Magna and other suppliers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 1, 2026

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

From Salon ● May 21, 2025

“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.

From Seattle Times ● May 31, 2024

So Pa would take the ramrod from its place under the gun barrel, and fasten a piece of clean cloth on its end.

From "Little House in the Big Woods" by Laura Ingalls Wilder