under the gun

Meanings

prepositional phrase

idiomaticUnder great pressure to perform.
He was under the gun to finish the project quickly.
1 more example
I'm under the gun again / I know I was a 45-percenter then / I know I was a lot of things
2013, The National, “I Need My Girl”, in Trouble Will Find Me
Synonyms: under the cosh, under the pump
card gamesOf, pertaining to, or in the situation of first player to act on the first round of betting.
James will be under the gun for the first hand of the final table.
Synonyms: UTG
obsoletegovernmentToo close to be subject to artillery fire.

prepositional phraseUnder great pressure to perform.

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prepositional phraseOf, pertaining to, or in the situation of first player to act on the first round of betting.

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Cite this entry

APA

under the gun. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/under%20the%20gun

MLA

“under the gun.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/under%20the%20gun. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “under the gun,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/under%20the%20gun.