English idiom

pull the trigger

Register · Informal CEFR B1

Post

Figurative meaning

to finally make a decision and act on it

Why this phrase?

From firing a gun: the decision point after all the aiming.

Example

“We've been evaluating for months — it's time to pull the trigger on the acquisition.”

Dictionary details

Component words

trigger

Tags

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

cut your losses

to stop investing in a failing venture in order to avoid further loss

green light

official permission to proceed with something

kick off

to begin an event, meeting, or project

come into play

to start to have an effect or become relevant

follow suit

to do the same thing that another person or group has just done

get the show on the road

to begin a project or activity that has been delayed

Source methodology

Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.

External links

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