loose cannon
Dangerously erratic person
A loose cannon is someone whose unpredictable behavior creates problems for others, especially within an organization.
The image comes from naval warfare—a cannon that breaks free on a rolling ship becomes a dangerous projectile, threatening the crew it was meant to protect.
The new hire turned out to be a loose cannon, insulting clients and ignoring protocol.
- recklessCarelessly ignoring danger
- unpredictableCannot be anticipated
- off the railsBehaving erratically or chaotically
- impulsiveActing without deliberation
- hot headQuick-tempered person
destabilizer · volatile · bull in a china shop · troublemaker · maverick · liability · erratic · powder keg · rogue · gone rogue · wild card · danger · out of control · hellion · threat · live wire · renegade · ticking time bomb
- combat idiomsstab in the back, dodge a bullet, in the crosshairs, fire away, take a shot
- action clichesexplosion, car chase, one-liner, slow motion, shootout
- difficult peopleegomaniac, egotist, nitpicker, drama queen, control freak
- Nautical Idiomsbatten down the hatches, all hands on deck, smooth sailing, three sheets to the wind, in the same boat
- troublemakerstroublemaker, rascals, delinquents, imps, brats
- bad boysrebel, rogue, troublemaker, delinquent, rascal
loose cannonsteady hand
Unwavering manual control
safe pair of hands · dependable · rock · predictable · pillar
loose cannonteam player
One who collaborates willingly
company man · yes man · conformist · follower · organization man
loose cannonlevel-headed
Calm and sensible
cool-headed · cool head · measured · restrained · disciplined
lose, loose, loosen, cannon, loosened, cannons, loosening, loosely, looses