young guns
Eager new talents
Young guns are energetic newcomers challenging established players in a field—in business, politics, sports, or any competitive arena.
The phrase evokes the image of quick-drawing gunslingers, suggesting ambition and a willingness to upset the old guard: The young guns in the department are pushing for major changes.
Usually plural and often slightly admiring.
- upstartsPresumptuous newly successful people
- neophytesInexperienced newcomers
- rookiesInexperienced beginners in profession
- new kids on the blockRecently arrived people
- novicesInexperienced newcomers
tyros · prodigies · whiz-kids · wunderkind · fledglings · go-getter · innovators · newcomer · new blood · rising stars · ones to watch · phenoms · trailblazers · mavericks · hotshots · greenhorn · pioneers · risk-taker
- collectible cardssports cards, trading cards, basketball cards, football cards, baseball card
young gunsveterans
Former armed forces members
old hands · old guard · elder statesmen · incumbents · stalwarts
young gunsold-timers
Longtime participants or members
elders · old guard · old folks · graybeards · seniors
young gunstraditionalists
Upholders of established customs
conservatives · stick-in-the-muds · old guard · establishment · old school
young, gun, guns, younger, youngest, youngster, youngsters, gunner, gunners