Loose cannon
Suggest a CorrectionMeaning
An unpredictable or reckless person, liable to cause havoc.
Origin
From 19th-century naval warfare, where a loose cannon-unsecured in a storm-smashed decks, deadly chaos noted in an 1850s log. By 1891, a 'Times' piece used it for an erratic MP.
Usage Examples
- He's a loose cannon; might insult the client!
- She's a loose cannon on stage; unscripted every night.
- That loose cannon ruined the meeting with his rant.
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