
IdiomDaily Life
Spanish
dar el pistoletazo de salida
Meaning: To officially begin or launch something.
Literally: To give the pistol shot of departure
Example: “El alcalde dio el pistoletazo de salida a las fiestas del pueblo.” — The mayor fired the starting gun on the village festival.
English equivalent: To fire the starting gun
Equivalents in other languages
English: fire the starting gun
Origin: From athletics and racing, where a starter's pistol fired into the air signals the start. Spanish journalism uses it constantly for the launch of anything from a sales season to an election campaign.
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