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Hang fire

noun, verb

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    The situation when a gun does not immediately fire when the trigger is pulled, but may fire shortly after.
Verb
  1. 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. 2
    To wait or hold back. figuratively

    "We were told to hang fire on the decision until management came back with a proposal."

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