This expression is commonly used as a verb phrase, but can likewise be supplied as a gerund. Many world use that in the paper definition of saying they don’t want to begin too early but still think starting early could be necessary. Others use it to apologize for starting too early.

You are watching: What does jump the gun mean

Origin of Jump the Gun

The literal definition of jumping the gun is to begin running a race prior to the beginning signal has actually sounded. In most foot races, the starting signal is regularly a gunshot, therefore jumping the gun is to begin running before the gunshot has actually sounded.

This plot could an outcome in disqualification or having actually to begin over because it is versus the rules. This phrase very first became famous in the first half of the 1900s.


Examples of Jump the Gun

*
In the below example, a physician is talking to she patient v a major illness and uses the expression in order to say the it might be too beforehand to cite something, but she is walk to point out it anyway.

Doctor: ns don’t want to jump the gun, but these results look really interesting.

Patient: What is it?

Doctor: that too at an early stage to know for sure, yet it’s possible that she on the first steps toward recovery.

Patient: Really? That’s fantastic news!


Doctor: however don’t gain your really hopes up! your results can go ago down. We’ll inspect again at your next appointment to watch if yes been steady improvement.


*
The next example entails a professor of English as a 2nd language and also his student.

Professor: What have the right to I assist you v today?

Student: I have actually a question about using the previous perfect steady tense in the passive voice.

Professor: Whoa! Don’t run the gun! fine cover that next year. We room just starting the perfect tense now. The previous perfect gradual is much trickier, and the passive voice makes it even much more advanced.

Student: i know. However I just really desire to know it now.

Professor: I’m worried if you try to understand it currently it will simply confuse you more.

More Examples

The excerpt below shows the idiom being provided in the paper definition of nuclear bombs, and it explains how one person could have started a nuclear war if the hadn’t waited to make sure he had correct information.

In this example, the expression is being provided to say that someone at first thought they walk something also early, yet in the end realized that they had good timing.

See more: How To Do A Roundoff Back Tuck Tutorial, Round Off Back Tuck Tutorial

Summary

Jumping the gun is one expression that method to carry out something prematurely, and has a an unfavorable connotation.