Listening exercises with “Jump the gun”
The expression jump the gun means to start something too soon or to act before the appropriate or official time.
When someone jumps the gun, they are being impatient or hasty – they should have waited longer before taking action.
e.g. I think we jumped the gun by announcing the project before getting final approval.
This expression comes from athletics. If a runner starts a race before the starting gun is fired, then they have jumped the gun – they have started the race too soon. Today, we use it in many different situations to describe acting too quickly, hastily or prematurely, including:
- Business decisions (launching products, making announcements)
- Relationships (moving in together, getting married)
- Investments (buying or selling too quickly)
- Medical situations (assuming the worst before getting test results)
- Career moves (quitting jobs, accepting offers)
Here are some examples in context:
Keyboard Shortcuts
Keyboard Shortcuts
Keyboard Shortcuts
We often use this expression to talk about mistakes or problems caused by doing things too quickly or not waiting for the right moment. Note that this expression often carries a tone of criticism or regret – it usually describes a mistake or poor judgment in timing. e.g. We jumped the gun moving into the new office, and now we’re stuck paying rent for two buildings.
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