Sekirov Dictionary

hang fire

verb 2
noun 1
forms 4

verb2

•
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. — 1841
•
(figurative) To wait or hold back.
- We were told to hang fire on the decision until management came back with a proposal.

noun1

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

forms

hung fire · hanging fire · hangs fire · hang fires

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