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hang fire

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hang fire

to delay or wait; to be delayed. I think we should hang fire and wait for other information. Our plans have to hang fire until we get planning permission.

See also: fire, hang

hang/hold fire

to delay doing something, especially making a decision, because you are waiting to see what will happen It would have been good to settle the matter now, but I think we should hang fire until the general situation becomes clearer. (often + on ) The chancellor has said he will continue to hold fire on a further reduction in interest rates.

See fire blanks, breathe fire, draw fire, fight fire with fire, light a fire under, light fire, play with fire

See also: fire, hang

hang fire

Delay, as in The advertising campaign is hanging fire until they decide how much to spend on it. This expression originally referred to the 17th-century flintlock musket, where the priming powder ignited but often failed to explode the main charge, a result called hanging fire. [c. 1800]

See also: fire, hang