What does "young gun" mean? Is it a common expression?
Native speaker’s answer
Rebecca
A "young gun" refers to a young man who is very successful, energetic, has a lot of talent, but is sometimes overconfident in himself and his abilities. "Young gun" is an older expression that came from old Western films where young, confident men would be quick to shoot guns. It is not a very common expression today. Ex: He's a young gun that is ready to go out and explore the world. Ex: He's a young gun - he may be talented, but he's got a lot of growing up to do.