Jump the gun means doing something too early, before the right moment or before you have the information you need. The image is from a running track: starting before the starting pistol fires, a false start. I may be jumping the gun, but... means I might be getting ahead of myself, but...
When would you say jump the gun?
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jump the gun by + -ing; jump the gun before something is ready
- We jumped the gun by printing the posters before the date was confirmed.
- I may be jumping the gun, but I have already started packing for the trip.
- The announcement jumped the gun because the venue was still being repaired.
What changed
First versionWe jumped the gun with ordering uniforms before choosing the team colours.
RevisionWe jumped the gun by ordering uniforms before choosing the team colours.
You rush with something or hurry with something, so with seems to fit: jumped the gun with ordering. But after jump the gun, the hasty action comes with by + -ing: jumped the gun by ordering uniforms. With was replaced with by.
Act quickly is neutral, and it can be the right thing to do. Jump the gun is always a criticism: too early, you didn't wait. Jump to conclusions is only about a hasty judgement: Don't jump to conclusions. Jump the gun is about an action: an order, an announcement, a purchase.
Your turn
We announced the opening before the building was ready, so we ___.
Show the answer
jumped the gun — They announced the opening before the building was ready, so they acted too soon: jumped the gun. Beat the clock means finishing before a deadline, which is praise, not criticism.
Write about a time when you bought, booked or announced something earlier than you should have.
I jumped the gun by booking the train before checking which station was closest to the venue.
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