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under the gun
/ˌʌn.dɚ ðə ɡʌn/◆idiom
under pressure to perform quickly
The team is under the gun to finish the project by Friday.
The team feels pressured to complete the project quickly due to an approaching deadline.
informal
under pressure to perform quickly or meet a deadline
With the client visiting tomorrow, we're really under the gun to finalize the report.
We feel intense pressure to complete the report before the client arrives.
The manager put the sales team under the gun to hit their quarterly targets.
The manager pressured the sales team to meet their sales goals quickly.
Commonly used in workplace or competitive contexts to describe time-sensitive stress.
Collocations
under the gun to do somethingfeeling pressured to complete a task quicklyput someone under the gunto pressure someone to act quickly
Antonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
When to use 'under the gun'
Use this idiom when describing situations where someone feels intense pressure to meet a deadline or complete a task quickly. It’s common in workplaces, sports, or competitive environments.
Gold Rule
Avoid literal interpretation
Do not confuse this idiom with its literal meaning of being physically threatened by a gun. The phrase is purely figurative in modern usage.
Word Origin
The phrase likely originates from the literal image of someone being threatened with a gun, implying immediate and urgent action. The figurative use emerged in the early-to-mid 20th century, particularly in military and business contexts where deadlines and performance pressures were likened to being 'held at gunpoint.'
Usage Notes
This idiom is informal and should be avoided in highly formal or legal writing. It conveys a sense of urgency and stress, often implying that failure to act quickly could lead to negative consequences.
Word Breakdown
under
in a state of
prepositionthe gun
implied pressure or threat
noun phraseEnglish Dictionary