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pistol
fire (one's) pistol in the air
1. In a duel, to shoot one's firearm into the air to avoid injuring the other party. A: "Did I just hear a gunshot? Is the duel over?" B: "Sir Edmund fired his pistol into the air, so Master William is unscathed."
2. To avoid harshly criticizing or otherwise hurting someone during an argument or debate. I usually fire my pistol in the air in these sorts of debates—I hate hurting people's feelings.
jump the gun
Fig. to start before the starting signal. (Originally used in sports contests that are started by firing a gun.) We all had to start the race again because Jane jumped the gun. When we took the test, Tom jumped the gun and started early.
jump the gun
to do something before it should be done We do not want to jump the gun by making a statement about what caused the explosion before the investigation is completed.
Etymology: based on the literal meaning of jump the gun (to begin to run a race before the gun that signals the start has been shot)
jump the gun
to do something too soon, especially without thinking carefully about it
Usage notes: If someone running in a race jumps the gun, they start running before the gun has been fired to start the race.
He shouted at me before I had time to explain, but later he apologised for jumping the gun. jump the gun
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]
jump the gun
tv. to start too soon; to start before the starting signal. The secretary jumped the gun and gave out the letters too soon.
pistol
n. a person who is bright, quick, or energetic. (Implying hot as a pistol or quick as a pistol.) Ask that pistol to step over here for a minute, would you?
jump the gun
To start doing something too soon.