hang fire

Definitions

1. 1

   To fail to fire immediately when the trigger is pulled.

   • […] a number of Portuguese soldiers entered, one of whom, taking me for a Frenchman, for I had the French soldier's jacket on, my own being wet, snapped his piece at me, which luckily hung fire.
2. 2

   To wait or hold back.

   • We were told to hang fire on the decision until management came back with a proposal.
   • “I’m just goin’ ter settle this little ——, that’s all,” said Dawes desperately. “What do you mean?” snapped Thomas Jordan. “What I say,” said Dawes, but he hung fire.
   • Kevin hung fire where he was, staring at Chaney's body with dilated eyes and a slowly greening complexion.
3. 3

   The situation when a gun does not immediately fire when the trigger is pulled, but may…

   The situation when a gun does not immediately fire when the trigger is pulled, but may fire shortly after.

The neighborhood