jump the gun

1. To spring off the ground or other base by a muscular effort of the legs and feet.

2. To move suddenly and in one motion: jumped out of bed.

3. To move involuntarily, as in surprise: jumped when the phone rang.

4. To parachute from an aircraft.

5. Informal To move quickly; hustle: Jump when I give you an order.

6. To take prompt advantage; respond quickly: jump at a bargain.

7. To enter eagerly into an activity; plunge: jumped into the race for the nomination.

8. To begin or start. Often used with off: The project jumped off with great enthusiasm.

9. To undergo a sudden and pronounced increase: Prices jumped in October.

10. To rise suddenly in position or rank: jumped over two others with more seniority.

11. To be displaced by a sudden jerk: The phonograph needle jumped.

12. To be displaced vertically or laterally because of improper alignment: The film jumped during projection.

13. To move over an opponent's playing piece in a board game.

14. To make a jump bid in bridge.

1. Informal To move quickly; hustle: Jump when I give you an order.

2. To take prompt advantage; respond quickly: jump at a bargain.

3. To enter eagerly into an activity; plunge: jumped into the race for the nomination.

4. To begin or start. Often used with off: The project jumped off with great enthusiasm.

5. To undergo a sudden and pronounced increase: Prices jumped in October.

6. To rise suddenly in position or rank: jumped over two others with more seniority.

7. To be displaced by a sudden jerk: The phonograph needle jumped.

8. To be displaced vertically or laterally because of improper alignment: The film jumped during projection.

9. To move over an opponent's playing piece in a board game.

10. To make a jump bid in bridge.

1. To enter eagerly into an activity; plunge: jumped into the race for the nomination.

2. To begin or start. Often used with off: The project jumped off with great enthusiasm.

3. To undergo a sudden and pronounced increase: Prices jumped in October.

4. To rise suddenly in position or rank: jumped over two others with more seniority.

5. To be displaced by a sudden jerk: The phonograph needle jumped.

6. To be displaced vertically or laterally because of improper alignment: The film jumped during projection.

7. To move over an opponent's playing piece in a board game.

8. To make a jump bid in bridge.

To form an opinion or judgment hastily: jump to conclusions.

To make a sudden verbal attack; lash out: jumped at me for being late.

1. To undergo a sudden and pronounced increase: Prices jumped in October.

2. To rise suddenly in position or rank: jumped over two others with more seniority.

3. To be displaced by a sudden jerk: The phonograph needle jumped.

4. To be displaced vertically or laterally because of improper alignment: The film jumped during projection.

5. To move over an opponent's playing piece in a board game.

6. To make a jump bid in bridge.

To move discontinuously or change after a short period: jumps from one subject to another; jumped from one job to another.

1. To be displaced by a sudden jerk: The phonograph needle jumped.

2. To be displaced vertically or laterally because of improper alignment: The film jumped during projection.

3. To move over an opponent's playing piece in a board game.

4. To make a jump bid in bridge.

Computer Science To move from one set of instructions in a program to another out of sequence.

Games

1. To move over an opponent's playing piece in a board game.

2. To make a jump bid in bridge.

Slang To be lively; bustle: a disco that really jumps.

To leap over or across: jump a fence.

To leap onto: jump a bus.

Slang To spring upon in sudden attack; assault or ambush: Muggers jumped him in the park.

To move or start prematurely before: jumped the starting signal.

To cause to leap: jump a horse over a fence.

To cause to increase suddenly: shortages that jumped milk prices by several cents.

To pass over; skip: The typewriter jumped a space.

To raise in rank or position; promote.

Games

1. To move a piece over (an opponent's piece) in a board game, often thereby capturing the opponent's piece.

2. To raise (a partner's bid) in bridge by more than is necessary.

3. To leave hastily; skip: jumped town a step ahead of the police.

4. To leave (an organization, for example) suddenly or in violation of an agreement: jumped the team and signed with a rival club.

To jump-start (a motor vehicle).

To leave (a course), especially through mishap: The train jumped the rails.

Slang

1. To leave hastily; skip: jumped town a step ahead of the police.

2. To leave (an organization, for example) suddenly or in violation of an agreement: jumped the team and signed with a rival club.

To seize or occupy illegally: jump a mining claim.

To forfeit (bail) by failing to appear in court.

Vulgar Slang To have sexual intercourse with.

1. The act of jumping; a leap.

2. The distance covered by a jump: a jump of seven feet.

3. An obstacle or span to be jumped.

4. A structure or course from which a jump is made: built a jump out of snow.

5. An initial competitive advantage; a head start: got the jump on the other newspapers.

6. Energy or quickness: "We got off to a slow start. We didn't have any jump, and when we did get things going, we were too far behind" (John LeClair).

7. A sudden pronounced rise, as in price or salary.

8. An impressive promotion.

9. A short trip.

10. One in a series of moves and stopovers, as with a circus or road show.

11. An involuntary nervous movement; a start.

12. jumps A condition of nervousness. Often used with the.

A descent from an aircraft by parachute.

Sports Any of several track-and-field events in which contestants jump.

Informal

1. An initial competitive advantage; a head start: got the jump on the other newspapers.

2. Energy or quickness: "We got off to a slow start. We didn't have any jump, and when we did get things going, we were too far behind" (John LeClair).

3. A sudden pronounced rise, as in price or salary.

4. An impressive promotion.

5. A short trip.

6. One in a series of moves and stopovers, as with a circus or road show.

7. An involuntary nervous movement; a start.

8. jumps A condition of nervousness. Often used with the.

1. A sudden pronounced rise, as in price or salary.

2. An impressive promotion.

3. A short trip.

4. One in a series of moves and stopovers, as with a circus or road show.

5. An involuntary nervous movement; a start.

6. jumps A condition of nervousness. Often used with the.

A step or level: managed to stay a jump ahead.

A sudden or major transition, as from one career or subject to another.

1. A short trip.

2. One in a series of moves and stopovers, as with a circus or road show.

3. An involuntary nervous movement; a start.

4. jumps A condition of nervousness. Often used with the.

Games A move in a board game over an opponent's piece.

Computer Science A movement from one set of instructions to another.

1. An involuntary nervous movement; a start.

2. jumps A condition of nervousness. Often used with the.

A jump-start of a motor vehicle.

Vulgar Slang An act of sexual intercourse.