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Fire the Starting Gun

What Does "Fire the Starting Gun" Mean?

homeidiomsFire the Starting Gun
"Fire the starting gun" is an English idiom. It means "to start a process or event, especially one that involves competition or challenge."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "fire the starting gun" used in a sentence:
  • With that announcement, they fired the starting gun on the race to the presidency.
  • When the clock struck midnight, they fired the starting gun on the 24-hour coding challenge.
  • The mayor's speech fired the starting gun for the city's revitalization project.
meaning for fire the starting gun

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Fire the Starting Gun" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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