loose cannon

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.

They might be rock-solid characters, or a loose cannon.

From BBC • Dec. 12, 2025

Some of the grapevine talk has gotten back to her — how she’s a loose cannon or stirring the pot to cover up for complaints accusing her of misconduct.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 14, 2024

Nixon and Kissinger saw him as a loose cannon, and they wondered whether he was divulging these secrets, possibly to foreign agents.

From Slate • Jun. 16, 2023

Those are the rules, and vice presidents who break them are blasted for going off-script or being a loose cannon.

From Washington Post • Apr. 27, 2023

They must think Hudson is a loose cannon and I’m the summer school know-it-all.

From "What If It's Us" by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera