Phrase guide

jump the gun

verb · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ʌn

1

verb

Meaning 1

To begin a race too soon, before the starting gun goes off.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: hobbies, lifestyle, sports

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To act or begin too soon or without due caution.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To trade securities based on information that is not yet public; to trade on inside information.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Qualifier: investing

Topics: business, finance

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

35 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 搶跑 /抢跑 (qiǎngpǎo) — to begin a race too soon
  • Finnish: ottaa varaslähtö — to begin a race too soon
  • Finnish: varastaa — to begin a race too soon
  • French: faire un faux départ — to begin a race too soon
  • German: einen Frühstart hinlegen — to begin a race too soon
  • Polish: robić falstart — to begin a race too soon
  • Polish: zrobić falstart — to begin a race too soon
  • Romanian: fura startul — to begin a race too soon
  • Russian: соверши́ть фальста́рт (soveršítʹ falʹstárt) — to begin a race too soon
  • Spanish: partir en falso — to begin a race too soon
  • Arabic: يتسرع — to act without due caution
  • Chinese Mandarin: 操之過急 /操之过急 (cāozhīguòjí) — to act without due caution
  • Dutch: te hard van stapel lopen — to act without due caution
  • Finnish: ottaa varaslähtö — to act without due caution
  • Finnish: hätäillä — to act without due caution
  • French: agir hâtivement — to act without due caution
  • French: agir prématurément — to act without due caution
  • French: devancer l'appel — to act without due caution
  • French: s'emballer — to act without due caution
  • French: brûler les étapes — to act without due caution
  • German: überstürzen — to act without due caution
  • Italian: andare a testa bassa — to act without due caution
  • Malayalam: തോക്കിൽ കയറി വെടി വയ്ക്കുക (tōkkil kayaṟi veṭi vaykkuka) — to act without due caution
  • Polish: wychodzić przed szereg — to act without due caution
  • Polish: wyjść przed szereg — to act without due caution
  • Portuguese: precipitar — to act without due caution
  • Russian: де́йствовать преждевре́менно (déjstvovatʹ preždevrémenno) — to act without due caution
  • Russian: поспешить (pospešitʹ) — to act without due caution
  • Russian: поторопиться (potoropitʹsja) — to act without due caution
  • Spanish: precipitarse — to act without due caution
  • Finnish: ottaa varaslähtö — to trade securities based on yet undisclosed information
  • French: commettre un délit d'initié — to trade securities based on yet undisclosed information
  • Polish: dokonywać transakcji w oparciu o informacje poufne — to trade securities based on yet undisclosed information
  • Polish: dokonać transakcji w oparciu o informacje poufne — to trade securities based on yet undisclosed information
  • Spanish: usar información privilegiada — to trade securities based on yet undisclosed information