"jump"の意味 ― jump

次の引用記事を読んでみましょう。


Two security guards of a minister in Indian-administered Kashmir have been arrested for attacking a traffic policeman who stopped his cavalcade for jumping a red light, officials say.

The policeman told Indian newspapers that he was hit in the face by a rifle butt on Monday after stopping the cars.

Flood Control Minister Taj Mohiuddin denied seeing the incident, claiming he was on the telephone at the time.

The two guards have been questioned for assault, officials say.

The policeman told Indian newspapers that the incident happened in Srinagar when he asked the driver of the lead vehicle in the minister's cavalcade why he had jumped the lights.
(Kashmir minister's guards held after policeman assault. BBC News. September 11, 2012.)


“jumping a red light”という箇所があります。”a red light”は赤信号のことで、信号無視をする、という意味です。引用記事の後半にも、”jump the lights”と出てきますが同じ意味です。

辞書を引くと、”jump”という動詞の意味に、


（適当な時機・合図などより）早く飛び出す


という意味があることが分かります。American Heritage Dictionaryでは、


To move or start prematurely before


という定義になっています。

例えば、”jump the gun”は、鉄砲の合図（gun）より早く飛び出すことであり、スポーツでのフライングを意味しています。


The former college basketball player kept his cool through three false starts, even as defending champion Linford Christie jumped the gun twice and was disqualified.
(Atlanta Journal Constitution. 1997.)


"jump"には色々な意味があるようですが、”信号無視”を表現するのに"jump"を使うとは知りませんでした。