loose cannon

English

Pronunciation

  • Audio (General Australian):(file)

Noun

loose cannon (plural loose cannons)

  1. (nautical) A cannon that breaks loose from its moorings on a ship during battle or storm, with the potential to cause serious damage to the ship and her crew.
  2. (idiomatic, by extension) An uncontrolled or unpredictable person who causes damage to their own team, faction, political party, etc.
    Jack is considered a loose cannon due to his volatile personality and his track record of being unable to maintain his composure.
    • 2013, “Post Party Depression”, in Rogue Taxidermy, performed by Days N' Daze:
      Sooner or later this party gets busted and all your friends stumble back home
      But you're the loose cannon who could never be trusted so you'll hide from the cops all alone.
    • 2024 September 13, Jeet Heer, “How Donald Trump Got Loomered”, in The Nation‎[1]:
      Even in MAGA circles, Loomer is regarded as a loose cannon who loves to get attention from inflammatory comments that undermine the Republican Party.

Translations

Verb

loose cannon (third-person singular simple present loose cannons, present participle loose cannoning, simple past and past participle loose cannoned)

  1. (idiomatic) To behave in a way such as to cause damage to one's own faction, political party, etc.
    • 2006, Gerry McCusker, Public Relations Disasters: Talespin--Inside Stories and Lessons Learnt, page 179:
      Gerald's loose cannoning triggered a volley of faithfully quoted media coverage which blasted a hole in his company's profits […]
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