IdiomDaily Life
English
Englishfire the starting gun
Meaning: To signal the official start of something.
Example: “The mayor's speech fired the starting gun on the building work.”
Origin: From athletics, where a pistol shot starts a race. The figurative use is common from the 20th century.
Equivalents in other languages
Spanish: dar el pistoletazo de salida Literally: To give the pistol shot of departure
More English idioms
- bang one's head against a brick wall To keep trying something with no result.
- have a whale of a time To enjoy oneself enormously.
- get off on the right foot To make a good start.
- turn one's back on someone To abandon or refuse to help someone.
- one's heart sinks To feel sudden disappointment or dread.
- a matter of life and death Something of the greatest possible seriousness.
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