tommy gun: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal, Historical
Quick answer
What does “tommy gun” mean?
A type of lightweight, portable submachine gun, typically fed by a drum or box magazine, that fires pistol-caliber cartridges automatically.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A type of lightweight, portable submachine gun, typically fed by a drum or box magazine, that fires pistol-caliber cartridges automatically.
A symbol of American Prohibition-era gangsters and organized crime; any rapid-firing, compact automatic weapon used in close-quarters combat.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is understood in both dialects but is more culturally embedded in American history and media. British usage often references American cultural exports.
Connotations
In the US: Strong historical/criminal connotations (Al Capone, Valentine's Day Massacre). In the UK: Primarily a reference point from American films and history.
Frequency
More frequently encountered in American historical discussions, crime documentaries, and period dramas.
Grammar
How to Use “tommy gun” in a Sentence
[Subject] + fire/spray/wield + [tommy gun][tommy gun] + chatter/roar/jamVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “tommy gun” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The mobsters threatened to tommy-gun the rival's establishment.
- In the film, they tommy-gunned their way into the vault.
American English
- The gangsters tommy-gunned the speakeasy's door.
- He famously tommy-gunned his competitors out of business.
adjective
British English
- The film had a classic tommy-gun fight scene.
- He adopted a tommy-gun style of questioning.
American English
- The museum displayed a tommy-gun case from the 1920s.
- Her tommy-gun delivery of lines was overwhelming.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in entertainment (film prop rentals, video game asset descriptions).
Academic
Used in historical texts on 20th-century crime, weapon technology, or American social history.
Everyday
Very rare in modern conversation, except in historical or figurative references.
Technical
Used in firearms history, collections, and discussions of small arms development.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “tommy gun”
Strong
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “tommy gun”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “tommy gun”
- Using 'tommy gun' to refer to any modern assault rifle (e.g., an AK-47).
- Spelling as 'tommygun' (though sometimes seen, the spaced form is standard).
- Using it in a modern military context; it's historically specific.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While infamous for its use by gangsters, it was also used by police, FBI agents, and in limited numbers by US soldiers in World War II.
No. The official name is the Thompson Submachine Gun. 'Tommy gun' is a colloquial nickname.
It is historically inaccurate. The term is specific to the Thompson submachine gun and its iconic cultural image. Using it for modern weapons is a metaphorical stretch.
It is named after its principal designer, U.S. Army General John T. Thompson.
A type of lightweight, portable submachine gun, typically fed by a drum or box magazine, that fires pistol-caliber cartridges automatically.
Tommy gun is usually informal, historical in register.
Tommy gun: in British English it is pronounced /ˈtɒmi ɡʌn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈtɑːmi ɡʌn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “He went off like a tommy gun (talking very rapidly and incessantly).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'Tommy' as a person's name. A 'Tommy Gun' was the gun famously used by gangsters named like Tommy.
Conceptual Metaphor
A TOMMY GUN IS A TOOL OF CHAOS/ERASURE (e.g., 'He tommy-gunned his way through the argument' implies rapid, indiscriminate verbal attack).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a key characteristic of a tommy gun?