Idiom

Loose cannon

What does "Loose cannon" mean?

Someone who is unpredictable and can cause damage by being reckless.

Loose cannon

Britain. 19th century.

Someone who is unpredictable and can cause damage by being reckless.

Worldwide.

  • These negotiations with the Chinese are at a critical stage. Keep Jack out of it, he's just the sort of loose cannon that would say the wrong thing and upset them.