How do you say “Jump the gun” in German?
The closest natural German equivalent is voreilig handeln, which literally means “to act prematurely”. English speakers use jump the gun to mean to act too soon, before the right time or signal. A direct German equivalent for acting before you should. It is less colourful and more neutral. Register: neutral. Usage frequency: common.
Closest natural German
voreilig handeln
/ˈfoːɐ̯aɪlɪç ˈhandl̩n/
- Literal meaning
- “to act prematurely”
- Register
- neutral
- How often it's used
- common
- Equivalence
Near-exact equivalent
94 out of 100
What a native German speaker would actually say
“Voreilig” suggests that the action came before enough thought or confirmation. It is useful for an early announcement or decision.
In an actual race, a false start is a “Frühstart”. The everyday translation does not need a gun or a sporting scene.
How close is the meaning?
- Meaning5 out of 5
- Tone4 out of 5
- Context5 out of 5
- Literal similarity1 out of 5
These ratings are editorial approximations, not measurements.
In context
English
I jumped the gun and sent invitations before the venue confirmed our booking.
German
Ich habe voreilig gehandelt und Einladungen verschickt, bevor der Veranstaltungsort unsere Buchung bestätigt hatte.
English
Are we jumping the gun by celebrating before the results arrive?
German
Handeln wir voreilig, wenn wir feiern, bevor die Ergebnisse da sind?
Related expressions
Last updated 2026-10-01