jump the gun

The phrase "jump the gun" originates from track and field, where it refers to starting a race before the starting signal.

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Definition

B2General

(idiomatic)To act or begin something too soon, often without adequate preparation or consideration.

Example

He jumped the gun and submitted his report before the deadline was announced.
Don't jump the gun by making decisions before we have all the information.

C1Sports

(sports)To start a race before the official signal is given.

Example

The runner was disqualified for jumping the gun at the start of the race.

C2Finance

(technical, finance)To trade securities based on information that is not yet public.

Example

He was accused of jumping the gun by trading stocks with insider information.

Similar

Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "jump the gun":

jump the queue get ahead of oneself run ahead jump in shoot from the hip jump on steal a march shoot off at the mouth get the drop on jump out on the jump pull the trigger get ahead of gun jumping ready, fire, aim jump the shark head off at the pass starting gun jump off jump about false start go out on a limb