What does the Phrase ‘Loose Cannon’ Means?

A loose cannon is a person who is unpredictable and dangerous; a person whose actions are uncontrollable.

The cannons used to be transported on the decks of the warships. If a cannon was not properly fastened to the ship, it could spin round and damage the ship during a storm or enemy attack.

Let’s see an example —

‘It was a mistake to elect him president of the country. He’s kind of a loose cannon and may jeopardize our relationship with other countries.”

It means that the president’s behavior is unpredictable. He might put our relationships with foreign countries in danger.

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Hi, I am Gauri Shanker, a Vocab teacher and enthusiast. I teach vocabulary in a fun and engaging way. You can check out my courses here.