| 释义 |
loose cannon, n.
Brit. |ˌluːs ˈkanən|, U.S. |ˈlus ˈˌkænən|
[‹ loose adj. + cannon n.1 Perhaps popularized after a phrase used by U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919): see quot. 1946]
An unpredictable or uncontrollable person or thing, esp. considered liable to cause unintentional or indiscriminate damage.
In earlier use, typically as part of an extended metaphor: see quots. 1900, 1973.
[1900Internat. Jrnl. Ethics 11 18 How far in general is a newspaper calculated to keep a nation reasonable or informed of the truth? About as well as loose cannon on a ship's deck are calculated to serve the ship for ballast.] [1946W. A. White Autobiogr. xlviii. 339 He [sc. Theodore Roosevelt] said: ‘I don't want to be the old cannon loose on the deck in the storm’. ] [1973R. M. Nixon Jrnl. 14 Apr. in RN: Mem. Richard Nixon (1979) II. 351, I have a note here saying ‘the loose cannon has finally gone off’,..that's probably what Magruder did when he went in and talked to the U.S. Attorney.] 1977Washington Post 13 Mar. a1/3 New political soubriquets are heaped upon Young..almost as fast as he breaks into the headlines: the Moynihan of the Left, the loose cannon, the wayward missile, [etc.]. 1982Washington Post 13 June c7/5 The president's men realized that the Patman committee investigation was a loose cannon that might sink Nixon's re-election chances. 1987Independent 8 July 1/2 Far from being a ‘loose cannon’ or a ‘lone wolf’, he had never acted without the knowledge of his superiors. 1996Spectator 31 Aug. 40/2 She has been downgraded for no other reason than the wish of the grotesque courtiers who rule within the palace walls to humiliate someone they consider a loose cannon. 2001N.Y. Times 4 Jan. f1/3 If it wasn't bad enough that the fashions and haircuts of the 1970's are back, now we have loose-cannon gas and oil prices. |