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3. under the gun

under the gun

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under the gun

(about something) Go to under pressure.

See also: gun

under the gun

to feel pressure to do something Al is under the gun to decide whether to move to Texas with his company.

Etymology: based on the idea of pointing a gun at someone to make them do something

See also: gun

under the gun

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]

See also: gun

under the gun

mod. under pressure; under scrutiny. They’ve got the boss under the gun to get this thing wound up by Saturday.

See also: gun

under the gun

Under great pressure or under threat.

See also: gun