What does "Loose Cannon" mean?

Unpredictable person who may cause damage Acts recklessly, uncontrollable.

Loose Cannon

Slang Term BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★☆ Common Casual

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Meaning: Unpredictable person who may cause damage

可能造成损害的不可预测的人

Persona impredecible que puede causar daño

損害を引き起こしかねない予測不能な人

피해를 줄 수 있는 예측 불가능한 사람

Acts recklessly, uncontrollable.

行事鲁莽，无法控制。

Actúa de forma imprudente, incontrolable.

無謀に行動し、制御できない。

무모하게 행동하며 통제할 수 없는.

Examples

He's a loose cannon.
他是个不定时炸弹
es un cañón suelto, un peligro
彼は何をするかわからない人だ
그는 무슨 짓을 할지 모르는 사람이야.

Pronunciation

/luːs ˈkænən/

Usage Guide

Context: behavior

Tone: warning

✓ Do Say

A loose cannon
不定时炸弹般的人
un peligro, un impredecible
何をするかわからない人
통제 불능인 사람

✗ Don't Say

Nautical
源自航海用语
Origen náutico
海軍用語が由来
해양 용어에서 유래

Common Mistakes

About unpredictability

Origin & History

Nautical—loose cannon on ship was dangerous.

Cultural Context

Era: 19th century

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Pop culture: Political commentary

Regional notes: Universal.

Variations

Loose cannon