beat the gun
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Strategy called for Hunter-Reay to again wait until the closing moments of the session to make his final attempt, but this time he didn't beat the gun.
From Seattle Times ● May 2, 2012
Beset by a flood of orders trying to beat the gun on allocations, President Guy Wainwright of Indianapolis' Diamond Chain & Mfg.
From Time Magazine Archive
Norway's Crown Prince Harald was so eager that he beat the gun in the last race, thus costing himself a chance for second place overall instead of eighth.
From Time Magazine Archive
Rivals had long claimed that tolerant European starters let him beat the gun.
From Time Magazine Archive
The two ships hammered away at one another for many hours without result; only five men were killed after a five hours action, for the armour beat the gun.
From How Britannia Came to Rule the Waves Updated to 1900 by William Henry Giles Kingston
