jump the gun
Act too soon
To jump the gun is to act prematurely—starting before the proper moment or moving ahead without waiting for authorization.
The phrase comes from racing, where a runner who starts before the starting pistol fires has jumped the gun.
Don't jump the gun on announcing the merger until the paperwork is signed.
Premature beginning violation
- too soonEarlier than appropriate
- earlyOccurring before expected
- ahead of timeBefore something is due
- anticipateExpect beforehand
overeager · eager · rushed · hasty · precipitate · preemptive · impatient · untimely
Heedless or skin irritation
- impetuousActing on sudden urge
- recklessCarelessly ignoring danger
- hastyExcessively quick, ill-considered
- headlongHastily and recklessly
incautious · heedless · foolhardy · brash · unthinking · snap judgment · knee-jerk · react
false start
Premature beginning violation
- too soonEarlier than appropriate
- earlyOccurring before expected
- ahead of timeBefore something is due
anticipate · overeager · eager · rushed · hasty · precipitate · preemptive · impatient · untimely · unprepared
rash
Heedless or skin irritation
- impetuousActing on sudden urge
- recklessCarelessly ignoring danger
- hastyExcessively quick, ill-considered
headlong · incautious · heedless · foolhardy · brash · unthinking · snap judgment · knee-jerk · react · spontaneous
- combat idiomsstab in the back, dodge a bullet, in the crosshairs, fire away, take a shot
- idiomstime flies, hit the sack, seize the day, ring a bell, break a leg
- sports idiomsdrop the ball, throw in the towel, slam dunk, out of left field, level playing field
- Competition idiomslevel playing field, down to the wire, neck and neck, win hands down, come from behind
- expressions for speaking rashlyfoot in mouth, speak too soon, blurt out, speak out of turn, let slip
- motion idiomsin motion, on the move, on the go, move forward, move along
jump the gunmiss the boat
Fail to seize opportunity
late · tardy · delayed · behind schedule · a day late and a dollar short
jump the gunbide one's time
Wait for opportunity
hold one's horses · wait and see · sit tight · keep one's powder dry · hold off
jump, gun, guns, jumping, jumper, jumps, jumped, jumpers, gunning