great guns

adverb

Informal.��in a relentlessly energetic or successful manner.
The new president has the company going great guns.

interjection

(used as an expression of surprise, astonishment, etc.)

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of great guns¹

First recorded in 1870–75

Discover More

Idioms and Phrases

Very energetically or successfully. This colloquial expression usually occurs in the phrase go great guns , as in They're going great guns with those drawings . The expression comes from British naval slang of the late 1700s, when blowing great guns meant a violent gale. Harry Truman used the term in Dear Bess (1945): “We have been going great guns in the last day or two.”

great gun . Also big gun . An important person, as in All the great guns came to the reception . This usage is heard less often today. [ Slang ; early 1800s] Also see big cheese .

Great guns ! An expletive expressing surprise or astonishment, as in Great guns! You're not leaving now? [Late 1800s]

Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Mr Haller said that at the beginning of last year "manufacturing was going great guns" but after an expected pause around the general election, activity has failed to pick up.

From

“Things are going great guns and we’re having so much fun,” MacLachlan says.

From

Every time the great guns fired, Isaac said he jumped off the ground.

From

"It's all been going great guns and we've all been doing lots of publicity and interviews and writing articles for the papers and stuff, all at the behest of the Agatha Christie estate," McDermid told the Edinburgh International Book Festival.

From

“Japan Inc.” was going great guns.

From

great gross greathearted

Browse