top gun: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
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Quick answer
What does “top gun” mean?
The highest ranked, most skilled or best performer in a particular competitive field, especially military aviation.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The highest ranked, most skilled or best performer in a particular competitive field, especially military aviation.
A term for any elite professional at the peak of their field, whether in sports, business, academia, or creative arts; also refers to an elite naval fighter weapons school and has been popularized as the title of a 1986 film.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term originates from and is far more prevalent in American English due to its naval aviation roots and the popular film. In British English, it is understood primarily as a cultural reference rather than an organic piece of slang.
Connotations
American: Strong, positive connotations of elite skill, often with a 'maverick' or non-conformist edge. British: Recognized as an Americanism; used with similar meaning but can carry a slight sense of imported, film-influenced hyperbole.
Frequency
Much more frequent in American English. In British contexts, it is a low-frequency, recognized borrowing.
Grammar
How to Use “top gun” in a Sentence
be the top gun (in/of)play the top guntop gun of [industry/field]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “top gun” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He's always trying to top-gun his colleagues in meetings, which can be tiresome.
American English
- She top-gunned the sales competition for the third quarter in a row.
adjective
British English
- He has a real top-gun attitude about the project.
American English
- They hired a top-gun lawyer to handle the case.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used metaphorically for the highest-performing executive or salesperson: 'She's the top gun in our mergers and acquisitions division.'
Academic
Rare; may be used informally to refer to the leading researcher in a field.
Everyday
Used to describe anyone exceptionally good at something competitive: 'On our local tennis court, he's the top gun.'
Technical
Specifically refers to the US Navy's Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) and its graduates.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “top gun”
- Using it to describe objects rather than people (e.g., 'That car is a top gun').
- Misspelling as one word ('topgun').
- Using it in overly formal contexts where 'leading expert' would be more appropriate.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. When referring specifically to the US Navy school or the 1986 film, it is a proper noun and capitalized ('TOP GUN', 'Top Gun'). When used as a common noun meaning 'the best performer', it is usually written in lowercase ('top gun').
Yes, absolutely. While its origin is in a male-dominated field, the term is now gender-neutral when used metaphorically (e.g., 'She's the top gun in her field').
'Top gun' emphasizes supreme skill, ability, and performance in a competitive arena. 'Big cheese' is an informal term for an important, powerful, or influential person, focusing on status and authority rather than necessarily skill.
It is not recommended. 'Top gun' is informal and has strong American cultural associations. In a formal British context, terms like 'leading expert', 'pre-eminent practitioner', or 'highest performer' would be more appropriate.
The highest ranked, most skilled or best performer in a particular competitive field, especially military aviation.
Top gun: in British English it is pronounced /ˌtɒp ˈɡʌn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌtɑːp ˈɡʌn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Top Gun (title)”
- “play top gun”
- “a top gun attitude”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the TOP pilot with a GUN (weapons system) – the best fighter pilot. The 1986 film 'Top Gun' solidified this image.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMPETITION IS WAR; BEING THE BEST IS BEING THE HIGHEST RANKED SOLDIER.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'top gun' LEAST appropriate?