loose cannon

noun

: a dangerously uncontrollable person or thing

Example Sentences

a politician who is regarded as a loose cannon by her colleagues

Recent Examples on the Web

Martin Riggs, the loose cannon with revenge on his mind, and Roger Murtaugh, the older, wiser man of the force, counting the days until retirement. —Kayt Sukel, Discover Magazine, 27 July 2016

Already identified as the loose cannon, Fred starts picking fights with Charlie about his devout faith, then learns it’s unwise to blaspheme to a Christian who makes your beans every night. —John Defore, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Sep. 2022

Everyone tiptoed around Diana, concerned that the unpredictable princess, referred to as a loose cannon, would further damage the already listing institution. —Simon Perry, Peoplemag, 18 Nov. 2022

Often caricatured as a loose cannon, Hoover was actually the consummate cautious bureaucrat, Gage says, the keeper of the files — an uptight, puritanical librarian. —Washington Post Editors And Reviewers, Washington Post, 17 Nov. 2022

No loose cannon, Hoover was actually the consummate cautious bureaucrat, the keeper of the files — really more of an uptight, puritanical librarian. —Kai Bird, Washington Post, 9 Nov. 2022

That Draymond was the loose cannon on the Golden State Warriors. —Scott Ostler, San Francisco Chronicle, 25 Sep. 2022

Key to this feat is the Wanderer, a loose cannon of a character played by Caplan (who may be better known as lead singer of the folk band Ben Caplan & the Casual Smokers). —Celia Wren, Washington Post, 12 Sep. 2022

Since then, O’Donnell seems to have involved herself in one kerfuffle after another as a kind of notorious loose cannon, on both television and social media. —Rachel Syme, The New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2022

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Word History

First Known Use

1889, in the meaning defined above