Loose cannon Meaning in English
expression
ˈɫus/ /ˈkænən
LOOSS KAN-uhn
lˈuːs/ /kˈænən
LOOSS KAN-uhn
Definition
A 'loose cannon' is a person who acts unpredictably and may cause problems or damage because they cannot be controlled.
Usage & Nuances
Informal, often used about colleagues, politicians, or anyone in a team who creates risk because of unpredictable actions. Usually negative or cautious. Not literal—refers to personal behavior, not actual weapons.
Spanish: persona impredecible - persona peligrosaPortuguese (BR): bomba-relógio (pessoa) - pessoa imprevisívelPortuguese (PT): bomba-relógio (pessoa) - pessoa imprevisívelChinese (Simplified): 不可控的人 - 危险分子Chinese (Traditional): 不可控的人 - 危險分子Hindi: अविश्वसनीय व्यक्ति - जोखिम भरा व्यक्तिArabic: شخص لا يمكن التنبؤ بتصرفاته - شخص خطيرBengali: ঝুঁকিপূর্ণ ব্যক্তি - অপ্রত্যাশিত ব্যক্তিRussian: непредсказуемый человек - непоседливый человекJapanese: 危なっかしい人 - 予測できない人Vietnamese: người bốc đồng - người khó lườngKorean: 통제 불가능한 사람 - 예측할 수 없는 사람Turkish: kontrolsüz kişi - dengesiz kişiUrdu: غیر متوقع شخص - بے قابو شخصIndonesian: orang yang sulit dikendalikan - orang yang tak terduga
Example Sentences
Tom is a loose cannon at work.
basic
Nobody wants a loose cannon on their team.
basic
She can be a bit of a loose cannon during meetings.
basic
Be careful—Jake's a loose cannon and might say anything.
natural
The press called the mayor a loose cannon after his outburst.
natural
You never know what a loose cannon will do next.
natural