gun
C1Informal to Formal (depends on context; technical use in specific fields)
Definition
Meaning
A portable weapon that discharges projectiles through a barrel, powered by explosive propellant.
Any device resembling or functioning like a firearm; an implement for applying, spraying, or fastening; a person who uses a firearm expertly; metaphorically, a determined or forceful approach.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word exists in a complex semantic field involving weapons, tools, and metaphor. In everyday usage, its primary association is with firearms, which carries significant cultural and political weight. It can denote function (tool for spraying), profession ('hired gun'), or metaphor ('jump the gun'). Its interpretation is highly context-dependent.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minor spelling differences in derived terms (e.g., 'gunwale' vs. historical spelling). The core meaning is identical, but the cultural and legal context of usage differs vastly, affecting frequency and connotation in public discourse.
Connotations
In both varieties, primary connotations relate to power, danger, violence, and in some contexts, protection or sport (hunting, shooting sports). In the US, additional strong connotations are tied to constitutional rights ('Second Amendment'), self-defense, and political debate. In the UK, stronger connotations relate to strict legality and criminality due to tighter gun control.
Frequency
Higher frequency in American English media and everyday discourse due to the prominence of gun rights debates, sport shooting, and cultural references. In UK English, it appears frequently in news about crime or historical/military contexts, but less in general casual conversation.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
VERB + gun: have, hold, carry, fire, shootgun + VERB: go off, fire, jamADJ + gun: loaded, unloaded, automatic, fakeVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “jump the gun”
- “stick to one's guns”
- “under the gun”
- “son of a gun”
- “gun for someone”
- “spike someone's guns”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Metaphorical: 'He came out with all guns blazing in the negotiation.' Also, in tools: 'The technician used a glue gun.'
Academic
Mostly in historical, political, legal, or sociological studies (e.g., 'gun control policy', 'the role of guns in frontier expansion').
Everyday
Common in news, crime dramas, and discussions of safety/hunting. 'Did you hear about the gun incident downtown?'
Technical
Specific to fields: mechanical tools (spray gun, nail gun, rivet gun), military science (specifications of firearms).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The security guard was gunned down in a daring robbery.
- He gunned the motorbike engine before speeding off.
American English
- The suspect gunned for the sheriff after the trial.
- She gunned the car down the freeway.
adjective
British English
- The film had a gun-toting villain.
- They were involved in a gun-running operation.
American English
- He's a gun-shy investor after the last crash.
- The debate focused on gun-rights legislation.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He has a toy gun.
- The policeman carries a gun.
- Hunting with a gun requires a licence.
- She heard a gunshot in the distance.
- The new legislation aims to tighten gun control significantly.
- Sticking to his guns, the manager refused the unethical deal.
- The historian analysed the role of the gun in shaping the nation's frontier identity.
- Under the gun to meet the quarterly targets, the team worked around the clock.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'GUN' as 'Gets Ur Nerves' racing – the sound of one is alarming.
Conceptual Metaphor
AGGRESSION IS A GUN ('under the gun', 'gun for a promotion'), COMMITMENT IS HOLDING A GUN ('stick to your guns'), PRECISION/SPEED IS A GUN ('grease gun', 'starting gun').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не путать с 'пушка' (cannon, larger artillery). 'Gun' обычно ручное оружие.
- В метафорическом смысле 'gun' не переводится как 'оружие' напрямую. 'Jump the gun' = 'стартовать раньше времени'.
- 'Gun' как инструмент: 'glue gun' = 'клеевой пистолет', не 'оружие'.
- В контексте 'son of a gun' (чёрт возьми, пройдоха) перевод идиоматический.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'gun' as a direct synonym for all weapons (sword, knife).
- Incorrect plural in compounds: 'machine guns' (not 'machines gun').
- Confusing 'gun' (firearm) with 'canon' (rule or large artillery).
- Using the verb 'to gun' incorrectly: 'He gunned the engine' (revved), not 'He gunned at the engine'.
Practice
Quiz
What does the idiom 'spike someone's guns' mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While the primary meaning is a firearm, 'gun' is used for many tools that project or apply something, like a glue gun, spray gun, or nail gun.
'Gun' is a broad category for firearms. A 'rifle' is a specific type of gun with a long barrel and spiral grooves (rifling) inside for accuracy. All rifles are guns, but not all guns are rifles (e.g., pistols, shotguns).
Not always. While 'to gun down' means to shoot, 'to gun' an engine means to rev it suddenly, and 'to gun for someone' means to seek to harm or undermine them, not necessarily physically.
Its core meaning is known at lower levels (A2/B1), but its extensive idiomatic use, nuanced connotations in different cultures, and technical applications in tools and metaphors make its full mastery appropriate for the C1 (Advanced) level.