pistol

Related to pistol: Glock

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."
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.
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.
See also: head, hold, 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!
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.
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
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

jump the gun

To start doing something too soon.
See also: gun, jump
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
See also:
  • fire (one's) pistol in the air
  • beat (one) to the draw
  • miss fire
  • measure swords
  • slow on the draw
  • thrust and parry
  • at (one's) doorstep
  • at (one's) expense
  • (one's) day in court
  • (from) top to toe
References in periodicals archive
The thumb button is positioned right where your thumb will be as you get a full firing grip on the pistol. How deeply your pistol sits into the holster is determined by flashlight fit, not your handgun, so many pistols sit higher than you might want, and SureFire provides "primary lock extensions" for the thumb button release.
A MASTERFUL HOLSTER: SUREFIRE'S NEW RIG SURE LOOKS DIFFERENT-BUT IT WORKS
Pistol grip no longer requires locking plate assembly and pin
Pistol grip changed in new TM
In the 50m Pistol Junior Men's category, the Indian team comprising Arun, Kapil Kumar and Karan Pratap scored 1607 points to bag silver.
Junior shooters bag two gold in Germany
In one competition geared toward introductory shooters at Fort Benning, Georgia, a shooter can only earn 4 points regardless of the placement in the top 10 percent, and the shooter must not have been awarded any pistol legs prior to the match.
Earning the distinguished pistol shot badge
This is a modular pistol, which means the serialized frame is actually a stainless steel insert inside the replaceable polymer grip.
ROUNDUP
International Olympic Committee (IOC) had revoked the Olympic qualification status of the menaACAOs 25m Rapid Fire pistol event of the ISSF World Cup after the Indian government authorities failed to grant an entry visa to the Pakistani delegation comprising two athletes and one official who was meant to participate in the event.
ISSF to reimburse medal Winners of 25m Rapid Fire Pistol event for non-availability of quotas
A lever is attached to the left end of the pinion shaft used to conveniently raise and lower the gear rack, thus elevating or lowering the pistol forend on the sandbag.
Building and Using a Better Pistol Rest: There is a good chance you can vastly improve your pistol shooting accuracy--and you won't need a machine rest to do it. Building a reliable pistol rest, along with a sound shooting technique, is a good place to begin
The forged upper and lower receivers of the pistol are manufactured from 7075-T6 aluminum and feature the "Accu-Tite" tension system that maximizes the tension between the receivers.
FIRST LOOK! THE SPRINGFIELD SAINT AR-15 PISTOL
First, our mindset is different than many pistol instructors.
PISTOL MALFUNCTIONS: Clearing Malfunctions with One Hand: Part 1
Rawat police station police has recovered a revolver 32 bore, 6 rounds, Kahuta police station police 1 pistol from Riaz 30 bore and 3 rounds, Thana Gujar Khan police from Sadaqat 1 pistol 30 bore and 3 rounds, Thana city police from Sanaullah 1 pistol 30 bore with 4 rounds, Thana Taxila police from Ahmad 1 pistol 30 bore and 4 rounds, Thana Taxila police from Ahmad 1 pistol 30 bore and 4 rounds.
Rawalpindi police launches operation against drug peddlers
Israel Weapon Industries (IWI) completed development of its Barak double-action pistol in 2002 an offers the weapon in three calibres: 9 mm with a 16-round magazine, .40 S&W with a twelve round magazine and .45 ACP with a ten round magazine.
Combat pistols: seeking a man-stopper: experience in Somalia, Afghanistan and Iraq in recent years has reinforced the importance of compact weapons in operations in urban environments. The pistol is a defensive weapon for the overwhelming majority of military users such as staff officers, vehicle and aircraft crew members and others who cannot be encumbered with a rifle or carbine
Over the years, the Browning Hi-Power 9-mm pistol has become old and obsolete.
The great Canadian pistol shoot-off
Glenn Lockley, spokesman for Rock Off, said: "To get so many big Pistol names together is phenomenal.
Never mind the Beatles. . . it's time for punk
A JUDGE has attacked the maximum fine for possession of an air pistol as petty after gardai warned drivers are shooting the guns from cars.
Judge takes shot at low airgun fines
A VERY PISTOL, listed in Webster's 10th Collegiate, is "a pistol for firing Very lights." The Very light is "a pyrotechnic signal in a system of signaling that uses white or colored balls of fire shot from a Very pistol." Edward W.
Very pistol