hang fire
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Writing in The Guardian, he said that crises “don’t take holidays, and don’t politely hang fire – certainly not to suit the convenience of a departing PM and the whims of two potential successors.”
From Seattle Times • Aug. 11, 2022
A movie as cryptic as “Burning” deserves to hang fire.
From The New Yorker • Oct. 26, 2018
Why didn’t she stop after the first line, leaving it to hang fire?
From The New Yorker • May 11, 2015
The moments that can sometimes hang fire – most notably the altercation between Ivan and Kaschey and the build up to the Infernal Dance – were full of terrific tension and drama.
From The Guardian • Feb. 24, 2013
They devoted three or four days to Vienna, a capital, they had often heard, as gay as Paris, and certainly splendid in appearance, but pleasure seemed to hang fire.
From The Guns of Europe by Altsheler, Joseph A. (Joseph Alexander)
From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.
