JUMP THE GUN

If you jump the gun, you act before the appropriate time.

 This phrase reflects an athlete starting a race a fraction of a second before the starting gun fires [1].

 Examples of use:

 “Council denies it has ‘jumped the gun’ on road consultation”

 “But men frequently jump the gun by asking for their partner’s hand in marriage after around two years and four months together.”

 “I’ve spoken to Bristol City and I’m quietly confident on the talks we’ve had. I’ll never jump the gun,’ but it seems positive at the moment.”


 [1] Cresswell, Julia. “jump” in The Oxford Dictionary of Word Origins. Oxford University Press, 2009.

 Photo credit: Jon Marshall