hang fire
Wait before acting
Hang fire means to delay or hold back, especially when a decision or action is expected.
The phrase comes from firearms—a gun hangs fire when there's a pause between pulling the trigger and the charge igniting.
Now it usually means to wait before proceeding: Let's hang fire on that decision until we have more information.
Chiefly British.
Delay until later
- hold offDelay or resist
- pauseTemporary cessation of activity
- postponeDelay to later time
- deferDelay or submit
hesitate · hold back · bide time · stay · suspend · shelve · table · put off
Failed device or effort
- fizzleFail after promising start
- malfunctionFailure to operate properly
- jamCooked fruit spread
- slow matchSlowly burning ignition cord
backfire · abort · flintlock · musket · black powder · cartridge · chamber
wait
Delay until later
defer · hesitate · hold back · bide time · stay · suspend · shelve · table · put off · delay
dud
Failed device or effort
- fizzleFail after promising start
- malfunctionFailure to operate properly
- jamCooked fruit spread
slow match · backfire · abort · flintlock · musket · black powder · cartridge · chamber
hang firetake action
Begin doing something
proceed · go ahead · move forward · press on · forge ahead
hang firecommit
Bind to a course
decide · take the plunge · pull the trigger · bite the bullet · go for it