pistol

(as) hot as a pistol

1. Performing extremely well. Their star player has been hot as a pistol all game, making basket after basket after basket. Ryan was hot as a pistol until he got injured. He probably would have made a run at the scoring title had he been able to stay healthy. The team has been hot as a pistol, rattling off 10 wins in a row.

2. Very popular or successful. That toy is as hot as a pistol this holiday season. We can barely keep it on the shelves! Not too long ago, this city didn't have much going on, but it has become hot as a pistol in recent years! Of course you kids have heard of the Beatles, but, let me tell you, they really were hot as a pistol when I was your age.

See also: hot, pistol

be (as) hot as a pistol

1. To perform extremely well. Their star player has been hot as a pistol all game, making basket after basket after basket. Ryan was hot as a pistol until he got injured. He probably would have made a run at the scoring title had he been able to stay healthy. The team has been hot as a pistol, rattling off 10 wins in a row.

2. To be very popular or successful. That toy is as hot as a pistol this holiday season. We can barely keep it on the shelves! Not too long ago, this city didn't have much going on. Now it's hot as a pistol! Of course you kids have heard of the Beatles, but, let me tell you, they really were hot as a pistol when I was your age.

See also: hot, 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." I never thought you cared a bit about Michael—and yet you fired your pistol in the air when you could have instead fired at him. Why is that? A: "You think the duel was staged?" B: "Why else would Sir Louis have fired his pistol in the air?"

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. You have a crush on her, don't you? And that's why you fired your pistol in the air during the debate! I'd rather fire my pistol in the air than say something in anger that I know I'll regret later!

See also: air, fire, pistol

hold a pistol to (one's) head

To force or pressure someone to do something. Kristina, you don't have to move if you don't want to—no one's holding a pistol to your head. Now that they've moved the deadline up, I just feel like they're holding a pistol to my head about selling the company. I swear, no one is holding a pistol to your head. We'll be happy with whatever decision you make.

See also: head, hold, pistol, to

hotter than a pistol

1. Very hot in temperature; very hot to the touch. Stay away from the stove right now—it's hotter than a pistol! Take some water with you. It's hotter than a pistol out there today. I hate working in the theme park during the summer, because it's hotter than a pistol in the costumes they make us wear.

2. Very angry. The boss is hotter than a pistol about that printing error, so I'd keep my distance if I were you. Yeah, Mom's hotter than a pistol that you dented her new car. A: "Please don't tell him I broke his priceless heirloom—that'll just make him hotter than a pistol." B: "Well, he's gonna figure it out eventually!"

3. Very popular or successful. That toy is hotter than a pistol this holiday season. We can barely keep it on the shelves! Hamilton has made Lin-Manuel Miranda hotter than a pistol—and a household name. Not too long ago, this city didn't have much going on, but it has become hotter than a pistol in recent years!

See also: hot, pistol

hotter than a two-dollar pistol

1. Very hot in temperature; very hot to the touch. Stay away from the stove right now—it's hotter than a two-dollar pistol! Take some water with you. It's hotter than a pistol out there today. I hate working in the theme park during the summer, because it's hotter than a two-dollar pistol in the costumes they make us wear.

2. Very angry. The boss is hotter than a two-dollar pistol about that printing error, so I'd keep my distance if I were you. Yeah, Mom's hotter than a two-dollar pistol that you dented her new car. A: "Please don't tell him I broke his priceless heirloom—that'll just make him hotter two-dollar pistol." B: "Well, he's gonna figure it out eventually!"

See also: hot, pistol

jump the gun

To start something before it is permissible, appropriate, or advisable. The phrase alludes to starting to run in a foot race before the starting gun goes off. Henry jumped the gun and sent the proofs to the printer before the boss approved them, and she was not happy. I probably jumped the gun with announcing our engagement before everyone was there, but I was just too excited.

See also: gun, jump

put a pistol to (one's) head

To force or pressure someone to do something. Kristina, you don't have to move if you don't want to—no one's putting a pistol to your head.

See also: head, pistol, put, to

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

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.

See also: gun, jump

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

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]

See also: gun, jump

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

jump the gun

COMMON If someone jumps the gun, they do something before the right time. `How about going out to celebrate?' — `I haven't definitely got the job yet so let's not jump the gun.' The book wasn't due to be released until September 10 but some booksellers have jumped the gun and decided to sell it early. Note: If a runner jumps the gun, they begin running before the pistol is fired to start the race.

See also: gun, jump

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

jump the gun

act before the proper or appropriate time. informal

In athletics, a competitor who jumps the gun sets off before the starting pistol has been fired. The expression appears in the early 20th century as beat the gun .

See also: gun, jump

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

jump the ˈgun

(informal) do something before the right time: They jumped the gun by building the garage before they got permission from the town council.

This idiom refers to an athlete in a race who starts running before the starter has fired the gun.

See also: gun, jump

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

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.

See also: gun, jump

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?

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

jump the gun

To start doing something too soon.

See also: gun, jump

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.