gun1 noungun2 verb
gungun1 /ɡʌn/ ●●● S2 W2 noun [countable] 
WORD ORIGINgun1
Origin:
1300-1400 Perhaps from Gunnilda, a woman's name, from Old Norse GunnhildrEXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
- A light machine gun opened up, then another.
- Either the machine gun had been wiped out or the enemy had gotten smart.
- He held the gun as if he didn't know what it was, and looked at her.
- His bulging eyes fixing her maniacally as he advanced, his hand on the gun at his belt.
- In letters written from jail, he denies using a gun in the robbery.
- Police said Stanton was hit on the back of the head with a gun during the ordeal.
- You know how to shoot a gun, she said.
Longman Language Activatortoo early
· Too much success too early can cause you to grow overconfident.too early to do something · It's still too early to tell if the treatment is going to be effective.too early for · There aren't any raspberries in the stores yet. It's too early for them.far/way too early (=much too early) · We arrived far too early and had to wait outside for an hour.
happening too early after something else, or doing something much earlier than you should: · I don't think you should go back to work too soon after having the baby.too soon to do something: · It's too soon to say what effect the merger will have on the company's 1500 employeestoo soon for: · I knew it was too soon for any likely resolution of the problem.far/way too soon (=much too soon): · You can't get married next week! That's far too soon.· Lendl hit the ball way too soon.
written: untimely death/end much earlier than usual or expected, so that people are surprised by it: · Before his untimely death in 1991, Freddie Mercury was a brilliant singer and performer.meet an untimely end (=die early): · His grandfather had met an untimely end as the result of too much whisky.
happening before the normal or natural time: premature death/birth/ageing: · Alcoholism is one of the major causes of premature death.· It has been proved that sunbathing causes premature ageing of the skin.premature baby (=a baby that is born before the normal time): · Her baby was premature and weighed only 2kg.
informal to do or say something too early, before you know what is going to happen next, so that you risk making a mistake: · I think it would be jumping the gun to sign the agreement at this stage.· Surely it's jumping the gun to buy the ring before you've even asked her to marry you?
British if you say it's early days , you mean that it is still too early in a process or event to know what will happen: · It's still early days, but all the signs are that the operation has been a success.it's early days yet: · "It looks like Liverpool are going to win the championship.'' "Oh I don't know. It's early days yet.''
WORD SETSAC, accessory, nounadapter, nounaerosol, nounalarm, nounarm, nounash, nounattaché case, nounbag, nounbar, nounbarrel, nounbeep, verbbeeswax, nounbell, nounbelly, nounbelt, nounbench, nounbenzine, nounbinding, nounbiro, nounbolt, nounbooth, nounbox, nounbox, verbbrad, nounbriefcase, nounbristle, nounbrolly, nounbrush, nounbucket, nounbuckle, nounbuffer, nounbulb, nounBulldog clip, nounbulletin board, nounbullhorn, nounbung, nounbunting, nounbusiness card, nounbutt, nounbutton, nounbuzzer, nouncable, nouncalling card, nouncan, nouncandle, nouncane, nouncarbon, nouncarbon copy, nouncarbon paper, nouncard, nouncardboard, nouncardboard, adjectivecardboard cut-out, nouncard catalog, nouncarrier, nouncarrier bag, nouncarryall, nouncart, nouncarton, nouncartridge, nouncase, nouncaster, nouncatch, nounCellophane, nouncesspit, nounchain, nounchalice, nounchannel, nounchart, nounchute, nouncitronella, nounclamp, nouncleat, nounclip, nounclipboard, nouncomb, nouncombination lock, nouncompartment, nouncord, nouncrank, nouncrate, nouncrepe paper, nouncycle, noundetector, noundial, noundigital, adjectivedisposable, adjectivedrape, verbdrawing pin, noundryer, noundurable goods, nounDurex, nounearplug, nounelastic band, nouneraser, nouneyelet, nounfabric, nounfelt-tip pen, nounfemale, adjectivefence, nounfiberglass, nounfibreglass, nounfigurine, nounfilament, nounfile, verbFilofax, nounfire extinguisher, nounfirewood, nounfitness, nounflag, nounflagon, nounflagstaff, nounflashlight, nounflat, adjectivefloodlight, nounfoam, nounfoam, verbfog, verbfolder, nounfoolscap, nounforecourt, nounfountain, nounfountain pen, nounframe, nounfunnel, nounfuse, noungadget, noungadgetry, noungargle, verbgas, nounglue, noungoggles, noungold card, noungranny knot, noungravel, noungravelled, adjectivegravelly, adjectivegrease, noungreetings card, noungrommet, noungum, noungun, noungunnysack, noungut, nounhand-held, adjectivehandle, nounhandloom, nounharness, nounhasp, nounhealth, nounhessian, nounhinge, nounhip, nounhoarding, nounhoist, nounholder, nounhook, nounhoop, nounhooter, nounhose, nounhosepipe, nounhub, nounhygiene, nounhygienic, adjectiveillness, nounindented, adjectiveinflatable, adjectiveingrained, adjectiveink, nouninn, nouninnkeeper, nouninsoluble, adjectiveivory, nounjacket, nounjack-knife, nounjoss stick, nounjuggle, verbkey, nounkeypad, nounkey ring, nounKleenex, nounknife, nounknob, nounlabel, nounladder, nounlantern, nounlatch, nounlatchkey, nounlather, nounlather, verbLCD, nounlead, nounlectern, nounlegal pad, nounlens, nounletterbox, nounlever, nounlibrary, nounlid, nounlidded, adjectivelift, nounlight, nounlight bulb, nounlink, nounlinseed oil, nounlitter bin, nounlock, nounlodestone, nounlog, nounloop, verblost property, nounmagnet, nounmagnetic, adjectivemagnifying glass, nounmale, adjectivemantle, nounmanual, adjectivemarker, nounmarker pen, nounmarket day, nounmast, nounmastic, nounmatchstick, nounmaterial, nounmeter, nounmeths, nounmode, nounmortar, nounmortise lock, nounmould, nounmounting, nounmovement, nounnail, nounnameplate, nounnet, nounnib, nounnipple, nounnon-standard, adjectivenoose, nounnotebook, nounnotepad, nounnoticeboard, nounnozzle, nounnut, nounoil, verboilcan, nounoily, adjectiveorb, nounoutfit, nounoutlet, nounovernight, adverbpack, verbpackage, nounpad, nounpad, verbpadlock, nounpaintwork, nounpantyliner, nounpaper, nounpaperclip, nounpasserby, nounpaste, verbpasteboard, nounpatron, nounpatronage, nounpatronize, verbpattern, nounpaving, nounpearl, nounpen, nounpenknife, nounpicket fence, nounpillbox, nounpince-nez, nounpinhead, nounpipe, nounpix, nounpizza parlor, nounplug, nounpocket, nounpocketbook, nounpocket calculator, nounpocket knife, nounpointer, nounpoison, nounpole, nounportfolio, nounPost-it, nounpowder, nounpowdered, adjectivepropellant, nounpropelling pencil, nounpump-action, adjectivePX, nounquarter, verbrack, nounreceptionist, nounreel, nounrefill, nounreflector, nounrefrigerate, verbregimen, nounreservation, nounreserve, verbsachet, nounsack, nounscratchpad, nounscratch paper, nounscreen, nounsealant, nounsealer, nounsearchlight, nounseason ticket, nounseat, nounself-assembly, adjectiveseptic tank, nounservice, nounservice, verbsetting, nounshade, nounsharpener, nounshovel, nounshovel, verbshovelful, nounsilver paper, nounsiphon, nounslat, nounslice, verbslot machine, nounslug, nounsmoke, nounsoot, nounsort, nounspare part, nounspigot, nounsponge, nounspool, nounspout, nounspray, nounspray can, nounspray paint, nounspring, nounstaff, nounstake, nounstalk, nounstandard, nounstaple, nounstapler, nounstationery, nounsteam, nounsteam clean, verbsteel, nounsteel wool, nounstepladder, nounstick, verbstick, nounsticker, nounstilt, nounstopper, nounstorm lantern, nounstrap, nounstreamer, nounstring, nounstub, nounsucker, nounSuperglue, nounswipe, verbswitch, nounswivel, nountab, nountack, nountag, nountag, verbtank, nountap, nountape, nountassel, nountattle, verbtea break, nounthong, nounthread, nountime-saving, adjectivetinder, nountinderbox, nountissue, nountop, nountote bag, nountowel, verbtray, nountrolley, nountube, nountubing, nountwine, nountwo-way mirror, nounumbrella, nounvent, nounvial, nounwaiting room, nounwasher, nounwaste paper, nounwatch, nounwaterspout, nounwheeled, adjectivewhistle, verbwooden, adjectivewriting paper, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY
I could see he was carrying a gun. I’ve never fired a gun in my life. Jake was pointing a gun at the door. Two policemen were killed in a gun battle.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES Tod’s grandfather taught him to shoot a rifle.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE
I could see he was carrying a gun. I’ve never fired a gun in my life. Jake was pointing a gun at the door. Two policemen were killed in a gun battle.· He was sentenced to nine years in prison for the knife attack.
(=make it shoot) the sound of a gun being fired
the sound of a gun being fired· More than 300,000 civilians, in a country of 6 million, have gun permits.
(=take one out, ready to use it)
Tod’s grandfather taught him to shoot a rifle.· The explosion from the big old-fashioned gun was deafening.· The side with the most men and the biggest guns will inevitably wear down its opponent.· The big guy with the big gun strafed the place.· They leaned into their big guns, shoulders twitching.· He won't be the last big gun brought out in the battle for Stockton South.· In Houston, many of the big gun shops have opted to police themselves.· Did you hear the big gun firing, from the prison-ships?· There was a tank with a big gun on it.
· To demolish enemy fortifications, heavy guns had also been developed.· Beyond them a phalanx of armored personnel carriers was lined up three abreast, their heavy guns pointed toward our bank.· Nearby are pillboxes designed to accommodate heavy machine guns.· Within minutes, the platoon was being pummeled by heavy machine gun and rifle fire.· Then he stopped the heavy machine guns blasting away non-stop.· They held for seconds, their gasping suddenly drowned by heavy machine gun fire ending with a scream from somewhere close by.· A new regiment of Saxons made its appearance, only to be massacred by its own heavy guns.· I had some physiotherapy and we replaced the heavy gun I fired on stage with a lighter model.
· But if you buy your child a toy gun will it turn him into an aggressive adult?· I hope you didn't pay too much for the toy gun.· She had pulled a stocking over her head and threatened a cashier with a toy cowboy gun.· Kaptan was wearing a plastic G I'S helmet and putting a roll of caps into a toy gun.· It like a toy cowboy gun to Chris.
NOUN· The menace of those long gun barrels was sobering.· The four desperadoes took off after us, running up the road as their gun barrels glinted in the light.· All he was aware of was the deathly cold of the gun barrel.· It appeared Mr Prescott then put the gun barrel in his mouth and pulled the trigger.· From part of this twelve gun barrels were forged and sent to Enfield, but they did not show the desired improvement.· She obeyed instinctively, the coldness of the gun barrel chilling her skin.· The shattered side window was punched through and a gun barrel appeared.· A typewriter was as individual as a fingerprint, or a set of teeth, or a gun barrel scoring a bullet.
· Seven police officers were injured in a gun battle.· But none of that happened without running gun battles with the centralizers in Washington.· On April 28 eight people died and more than 20 were injured in a gun battle in the village of Troitskaya.· After 10 days of gun battles, Federal troops were called out to quell the violence.· In the gun battle that followed all the rebels were shot dead except one-17-year-old Bhagwati Chaudhary.· His parents were told at first that he was hit in the chest during a gun battle.· Khosana was shot dead in an ensuing gun battle with Ciskeian troops.· Last Sunday 22 people died and 52 were injured in gun battles and by landmines in the state.
· Its opponents included liberals who were opposed to the death penalty and conservatives who objected to the gun control provisions.· The obstinate refusal of many males to support gun control is not chiefly a product of conditioning by the weapons industry.· We have an attorney general who was a leading opponent of gun control in the Senate.· The demand for tighter gun control is especially widespread and intense among women.· The law was sent for approval to Governor George Deukmejian, a former outspoken opponent of gun control.· He would outlaw abortion and end gun control.· She also would press for tougher gun control measures, such as licensing all new handgun owners.
· They started to use machine guns against the crowd on the Cathedral steps, people were collapsing wounded all about me.· You had a. 50-caliber machine gun and an M60 mounted on the rear of the vehicle to cover your rear.· A light machine gun opened up, then another.· The hammering of the machine guns and rifles around him was continuous.· Wounded men all round him tried to get up and retreat, but only brought eruptions of machine gun fire.· A small army of men toting machine guns stood at the gate, which slowly swung open in front of us.· I had hit the floor before the machine gun went off.· They were complemented by light machine guns that could be handled by a sin-gle soldier in a pinch.
· Four soldiers with submachine guns patrolled the room, and an officer made his rounds at frequent intervals.· Out of the darkness stepped four men with AK-47 assault rifles and Uzi submachine guns, Anaya said.· One of them tugged the camel reins away from Kate and she found herself looking into the muzzle of a submachine gun.· His hand went out, reached for the submachine gun, his fingers tightening on the stock.· He wore his skullcap, his hiking boots, his pistol-and had his Uzi submachine gun strapped across his back.
VERB· Look, I carry a gun.· He was not carrying a gun.· Osborn was known by his friends to carry a gun in his car.· If I'd been carrying my gun I'd have pulled it.· A jeep carrying two soldiers holding guns followed us for several miles, then turned back.· But Edward, delighted to be carrying a gun at last, hardly cared.· By the time a decision comes down, six months later, the students are carrying mobile phones-if not guns.
· She could have drawn her gun, walked up to them all, and killed them all quickly.· Let me ask you something: Who did he draw his gun?· The french windows were closed and he drew his gun and peered in to the gloomy apartment.· Rubenski, one of our most accurate gunners, opened up as we drew closer to the gun position.· Horses drawing guns slithered helplessly on the icy road, ambulances full of wounded skidded into ditches.· Both had been presidential bodyguards with the Reagan administration but neither of them had ever had to draw his gun in anger.· He threw the strip down then drew his gun.· The court heard that Newton had snapped in the mistaken belief that his father was about to draw a gun on him.
· The most free-spending hired guns are all well-known by political mavens inside the Beltway.· This time Bruce Willis is the hired gun in Prohibition-era Texas.· This time Bruce Willis is the hired gun, caught between Chicago gangsters fighting for control of the hooch business.· Her coming was more like bringing in a hired gun.
· The boy holding a gun too, but pointing it at the floor, uncertain what to do.· He stood up, holding the guns.· He held his gun near his mouth and touched it gently with his lips as he waited.· Buff's face was full of hate and he was holding a laser gun.· A jeep carrying two soldiers holding guns followed us for several miles, then turned back.· Duvall was holding the gun now as he looked down at him, breathing heavily.· You think it makes a man of you, holding a gun.
· The owners are constantly carping about runaway salaries, then fall over themselves to jump the gun and up the ante.· Although some winter barley growers jumped he gun last week, little was cut as crops were not fit.· Suppose some broker was able to anticipate the radio sign from Chicago, then he could jump the gun.· But we are jumping the gun here.· Aren't we jumping the gun a bit?· The new squad will officially be in existence on Monday anyway, so we're only jumping the gun by six days.· But I have jumped the gun.
· She must have got it from the room where I keep my guns.· He kept a gun in his desk drawer at the office and one night I took it out and shot him.· He kept the gun pointed at Connelly's head the entire time, the barrel never more than inches from his face.· Big Dumbo would keep his gun on me, I would watch his hand.· To this end, he had taught his deputies that keeping their guns cleaned and oiled meant never having to use them.· But it keeps the gun shops happy.· So what, that one of their neighbors kept a gun?
· They looked at the passports and then started to walk down the aisle, pointing their guns at the passengers.· Deering, whom Warren Cokley knew, entered pointing a gun at him.· He snapped off a shot, hardly even bothering to point the gun before he squeezed the trigger.· If Jack let his men point a gun at his own club, what other club could be safe?· Two men in their late teens or early twenties came into the office and pointed their guns at the cashiers face.· I turned around and saw a man pointing a gun at me.· Facing that wall was a picture of a huge hand pointing a gun directly at you.· I can close my eyes and point the gun and hit whatever it is.
· But he ducks, wrenches at my fingers, and pulls his gun hand free.· Then, slowly pulling my own gun away from his head, I continued walking until I was directly opposite him.· She said that, as the officer felt threatened, he pulled his gun and fired off a warning shot.· He pulled out a huge gun, snugged inside a light tan shoulder holster.· It's not every day a young woman pulls a gun on a burglar.· Confronting two young men outside a Vista apartment building, 18-year-old Lane pulled a gun.· We featured dramatic pictures of two of the masked boys pulling a replica gun on our front and centre pages.· Many horses died of starvation, and most of those that survived grew too weak for use in pulling the lightest guns.
· When you shoot the repeater hand gun work out the first shot normally with a strength of 4.· He let her shoot his gun from the hip.· The dawn raids happened less than a day after a Detective Sergeant was shot with a machine gun in Kent.· We were just firing in the dark too much, just shooting off our guns.· The villagers then shoot guns into the branches to ward off evil spirits.· She shoots guns, rides horses and even saves a certain some one from a hanging.· The electrons are shot from a gun aimed at the centre of the phosphor screen.· You know how to shoot a gun, she said.
· Federal agents and prosecutors said they found what amounts to a smoking gun in the case.· As smoking guns go, Rick Massey is a fizzle.· The Internal Revenue Service thought it had a smoking gun.
· So she had concocted this marvellous plan to spike Jenny's guns.· Federalism has spiked the guns of would-be autonomy-seekers.
· He told her that being firm, sticking to one's guns in situations of this kind, always paid off.· But Klein stuck to his guns.· The two brothers had conversation after conversation on the theme of religion, the younger one sticking to his guns.· And there was great admiration for Livingstone's transparent honesty, self-effacing modesty and determination to stick to his guns.· Spenser should have stuck to his guns and been satisfied with unity of design.· Whether I'd stuck to my guns or not, it had been a harrowing experience and I felt abused.· The clubs should have stuck to their guns.
· Wait till we turn the guns on them all.· I turned some guns, some explosives.· The man in the room withdrew his arm and shook it free of slivers before turning the gun around ready for use.· Rohmer was not going to turn a gun on him again, and he was not going to allow this to happen.· Delaney turned the already hosing gun on to the nearest.· He turns to get his gun out.· First nominate your target and turn the gun to face it as you would a cannon.
· They started to use machine guns against the crowd on the Cathedral steps, people were collapsing wounded all about me.· Only use a gun with an adult. 6.· The six-person jury unanimously found that Lozano had improperly used his gun.· Roughly half of child killers used a gun, while 16 percent used their own hands and feet as lethal weapons.· They like to use an elephant gun to stun a flea.· I can teach you to use a gun and to knife-fight.· Harris, who was driving a Peugeot 309, was caught by police using a radar gun.· Unfortunately, the child in the story uses a toy gun to rid himself of the beast.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRYPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► pack a gun► run drugs/guns► son of a gun!► spike somebody’s guns► young gun/Turk
1a metal weapon which shoots bullets or shellshave/hold/carry a gun- Ewood Park is a lucky ground for them and in the first half they went for Blackburn with all guns blazing.
- Kasparov has won, but Karpov went down with all guns blazing to an honourable defeat.
- Naomi has moved in, with all guns blazing.
- He might as well have put a gun to my head.
- All the big guns are through to the semi-finals as expected.
- He won't be the last big gun brought out in the battle for Stockton South.
- In Houston, many of the big gun shops have opted to police themselves.
- In part two: Showdown: Soccer's big guns prepare for a shootout.
- Lincoln brought in the big guns of William Temple to get bishop and rector to release the curate before the time.
- There was a tank with a big gun on it.
- They leaned into their big guns, shoulders twitching.
- Her coming was more like bringing in a hired gun.
- The most free-spending hired guns are all well-known by political mavens inside the Beltway.
- This time Bruce Willis is the hired gun in Prohibition-era Texas.
- This time Bruce Willis is the hired gun, caught between Chicago gangsters fighting for control of the hooch business.
- It is going great guns with special lines, the Fortress Alarm and the upgraded, fancy number, the Citadel.
- I think it would be jumping the gun to sign the agreement at this stage.
- Miller is young, and comparing him to the great quarterbacks is jumping the gun.
- Surely it's jumping the gun to buy the ring before you've even asked her to marry you?
- Aren't we jumping the gun a bit?
- But I have jumped the gun.
- But we are jumping the gun here.
- It is unlikely that Boris Yeltsin would be implementing those reforms if we had jumped the gun, as the Opposition wanted.
- Suppose some broker was able to anticipate the radio sign from Chicago, then he could jump the gun.
- The new squad will officially be in existence on Monday anyway, so we're only jumping the gun by six days.
- The owners are constantly carping about runaway salaries, then fall over themselves to jump the gun and up the ante.
- And there was great admiration for Livingstone's transparent honesty, self-effacing modesty and determination to stick to his guns.
- But Klein stuck to his guns.
- I can decide how I am going to act, stick to my guns, and ignore the consequences.
- Spenser should have stuck to his guns and been satisfied with unity of design.
- The clubs should have stuck to their guns.
- The two brothers had conversation after conversation on the theme of religion, the younger one sticking to his guns.
- Whether I'd stuck to my guns or not, it had been a harrowing experience and I felt abused.
I could see he was carrying a gun. I’ve never fired a gun in my life. Jake was pointing a gun at the door. Two policemen were killed in a gun battle.2put/hold a gun to somebody’s head a)to put a gun very close to someone’s head to shoot them or to force them to do something: He put a gun to her head and told the cashier to hand over the money. b)to force someone to do something they do not want to do: You chose to live here. Nobody put a gun to your head.3a tool that forces out small objects or a liquid by pressure: a paint gun a nail gun → flashgun, spray gun4 (also starting pistol) a gun which is fired into the air at the start of a race5 big/top gun American English informal someone who is very important within an organization: Jed wanted to impress a Harvard professor and some other big guns.6hired gun American English informal someone who is paid to shoot someone else7with all guns blazing if you do something with all guns blazing, you do it with a lot of energy, determination, and noise → son of a gun, → stick to your guns at stick1, → jump the gun at jump1(11), → be going great guns at great1(11), → spike somebody’s guns at spike2(6)gun1 noungun2 verb
gungun2 verb (past tense and past participle gunned, present participle gunning) VERB TABLE
gun
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | gun |
| he, she, it | guns | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | gunned |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have gunned |
| he, she, it | has gunned | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had gunned |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will gun |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have gunned |
EXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
- Yes, well, when one has spoken out for freedom against dictatorship there are other people gunning for one.
Longman Language Activatorto shoot someone or something
to kill or injure someone by firing bullets from a gun: · I was afraid they were going to shoot us.· Rico had been shot by a member of a rival gang.shoot somebody in the back/chest/leg etc: · He had been shot in the chest but managed to crawl to safety.shoot somebody dead: · A tourist was shot dead by muggers in New Orleans last night.
to shoot an aircraft so that it falls from the sky: shoot something down: · Local militiamen shot down a federal army helicopter as it flew over the capital.shoot down something: · They said the plane had been on a spy mission and they were justified in shooting it down.
to be injured or damaged by bullets: · I didn't realize he'd been hit until he fell to the ground.· One of our planes has been hit.be hit in the chest/face etc: · He was hit in the arm by a sniper's bullet but carried on fighting.
to shoot someone, especially someone who cannot defend themselves, so that they are killed or badly injured: gun down somebody: · The bank robbers gunned down two employees who tried to stop them getting away.gun somebody down: · Two men dragged him out of his home, and gunned him down in the street.
to shoot people or animals one by one from a distance: pick off somebody: · Jesse hid behind a rock and picked off the sheriff's men one by one as they rode past.pick somebody off: · Our rifles were much more powerful and we were able to pick the enemy off before they could even fire at us.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES Tod’s grandfather taught him to shoot a rifle.
· He was sentenced to nine years in prison for the knife attack.
(=make it shoot) the sound of a gun being fired
the sound of a gun being fired· More than 300,000 civilians, in a country of 6 million, have gun permits.
(=take one out, ready to use it)
Tod’s grandfather taught him to shoot a rifle.PHRASES FROM THE ENTRYPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► pack a gun► run drugs/guns► son of a gun!► spike somebody’s guns► young gun/Turk
1be gunning for somebody informal to be trying to find an opportunity to criticize or harm someone: - As long as we're number 1, everybody will be gunning for us.
- Being No. 1, we knew a lot of teams are gunning for us.
- Why should he be gunning for me?
- Another officer is already gunning for his job.
- Being No. 1, we knew a lot of teams are gunning for us.
- Why should he be gunning for me?
- It is going great guns with special lines, the Fortress Alarm and the upgraded, fancy number, the Citadel.
- I think it would be jumping the gun to sign the agreement at this stage.
- Miller is young, and comparing him to the great quarterbacks is jumping the gun.
- Surely it's jumping the gun to buy the ring before you've even asked her to marry you?
- Aren't we jumping the gun a bit?
- But I have jumped the gun.
- But we are jumping the gun here.
- It is unlikely that Boris Yeltsin would be implementing those reforms if we had jumped the gun, as the Opposition wanted.
- Suppose some broker was able to anticipate the radio sign from Chicago, then he could jump the gun.
- The new squad will officially be in existence on Monday anyway, so we're only jumping the gun by six days.
- The owners are constantly carping about runaway salaries, then fall over themselves to jump the gun and up the ante.
- And there was great admiration for Livingstone's transparent honesty, self-effacing modesty and determination to stick to his guns.
- But Klein stuck to his guns.
- I can decide how I am going to act, stick to my guns, and ignore the consequences.
- Spenser should have stuck to his guns and been satisfied with unity of design.
- The clubs should have stuck to their guns.
- The two brothers had conversation after conversation on the theme of religion, the younger one sticking to his guns.
- Whether I'd stuck to my guns or not, it had been a harrowing experience and I felt abused.
Why is he gunning for me?2be gunning for something informal to be trying very hard to obtain something: He’s gunning for your job.3[transitive] American English informal to make the engine of a car go very fast by pressing the accelerator very hardgun somebody ↔ down phrasal verb to shoot someone and badly injure or kill them, especially someone who cannot defend themselves: A policeman was gunned down as he left his house this morning.GRAMMAR Gun down is usually passive.