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Glite Dictionary
to give it the gun

to give it the gun

9.8
To try very hard and work quickly to finish something
  • phrasal verb
  • Informal
translation icon : darlo todo
  • If we want to impress the client, we should give it the gun and complete the presentation today.

Examples

  • Give it the gun, Algernon.

    Help! (1965)

  • To finish the project on time, we really need to give it the gun this week.

  • When the deadline approached, the team decided to give it the gun and work late every night.

Synonyms

to go at it
vsto give it the gun
  • Informal
56 6.7

Act with a lot of energy, often fighting, arguing, or working hard

is energetic but less aggressive and focused on finishing quickly
to push it
vsto give it the gun
  • Informal
39 5.3

To try very hard to do more than usual

is about strong energetic effort aimed at finishing fast and fully
to turn up the heat
vsto give it the gun
26 4.2

Make a situation more urgent to force someone to act

is about increasing external pressure rather than personal maximum effort
to put one's shoulder to the wheel
vsto give it the gun
  • Informal
2 7.5

To start working very hard to reach a goal

starts intense work focused on finishing quickly and effectively
to hit the accelerator
vsto give it the gun
  • Informal
1 4.4

To try harder or work faster to reach a goal

uses high effort and enthusiasm to finish as fast as possible
to push it to the limit
vsto give it the gun
  • Informal
1 7.2

Use all your energy and take big risks to test your skill

means extreme effort but with emphasis on testing capacity not just speed
to go great guns
vsto give it the gun
  • Archaic
1 6.6

To move forward with great speed and success

is about energetic effort to finish quickly and with maximum force
to put one's shoulder into
vsto give it the gun
  • Informal
1 6.8

To work very hard and use a lot of energy

focuses on energetic effort aimed at quick successful completion
to blaze away at
vsto give it the gun
  • Informal
7.1

To work on a task with a lot of energy for a long time

aims for short bursts of maximum effort to finish quickly
to shoot one's load
vsto give it the gun
  • Offensive
9.9

Use all your energy at once and have none left in a rude way

means maximum effort too but with sudden total exhaustion afterward
to shoot one's bolt
vsto give it the gun
  • Informal
8.8

To use up all your energy or chances

matches total use of resources but stresses it may end options afterward

Antonyms

to slow down
687 1.4

To move or act more slowly

to take it easy
  • Informal
572 2.5

Relax and avoid doing too much or worrying

How Hard

to pull out all the stops
  • Informal
17 5.2
to go all out
39 4.1
to give it the gun
  • Informal
9.8
to push
731 1.5
to try
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

give it the gun infinitive
giving it the gun present participle
gives it the gun third person singular
gave it the gun past
given it the gun past participle

Morphology

give + it + the + gun

The verb sense here comes from the colloquial 'gun it' (to rev an engine / accelerate) so there is a loose compositional link: 'give' (apply) + 'gun' (push/accelerate) yields 'apply maximum effort'—but this relies on knowing the non-literal verbal use of 'gun' rather than the obvious noun meaning 'firearm'. A B1 learner who only knows the literal senses of the constituents would likely not predict this extended, idiomatic sense without prior exposure, making it only partially transparent.

Etymology

Give it the gun comes from drivers who gun an engine: they push the throttle so the engine roars and the vehicle rushes forward. So, give it the gun means to go at 'full power' or put maximum effort into something.