keep one's powder dry

动词 v.
中文释义

英文释义

动词 v.
  1. To hold back on action until a future time; to save one's resources in case of emergency. idiomatic
    — […]events now happening, which, beyond almost any set of circumstances which have arisen in our recent history, impose the necessity on Great Britain, at all events, of keeping her powder dry, and of keeping her resources in steadfast charge.

词形变化

keeps one's powder dry present,singular,third-person keeping one's powder dry participle,present kept one's powder dry participle,past kept one's powder dry past keep the powder dry alternative

词源

From the maxim trust in God and keep your powder dry, attributed to English statesman Oliver Cromwell; in the days of muskets, soldiers needed to keep their bags of gunpowder dry so they could load their guns at short notice.
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