What does "hang fire" mean?

The situation when a gun does not immediately fire when the trigger is pulled, but may fire shortly after.

What is a synonym for "hang fire"?

Common synonyms include: adjourn, be a sideliner, be dilatory, be still, be unproductive, bring up.

Hang fire

noun, verb

noun, verb ·Uncommon ·College level

Definitions

Noun

1
The situation when a gun does not immediately fire when the trigger is pulled, but may fire shortly after.

Verb

1
To fail to fire immediately when the trigger is pulled.
"[…] a number of Portuguese soldiers entered, one of whom, taking me for a Frenchman, for I had the French soldier's jacket on, my own being wet, snapped his piece at me, which luckily hung fire."
2
To wait or hold back. figuratively
"We were told to hang fire on the decision until management came back with a proposal."

Synonyms

All synonyms

adjourn be a sideliner be dilatory be still be unproductive bring up

Example

More examples

"[…] a number of Portuguese soldiers entered, one of whom, taking me for a Frenchman, for I had the French soldier's jacket on, my own being wet, snapped his piece at me, which luckily hung fire."

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