keep one's powder dry
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.93 in modern English
33
Scrabble Score
17
Letters
3
Syllables
10
Unique Chars
Meaning
verb
To hold back on action until a future time; to save one's resources in case of emergency.
Example Sentences
- "[…]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."
- "He’d for the most part refrained from any dramatic concurrences or dissents—as though keeping his powder dry for Burwell v. Hobby Lobby, the biggest religious-liberty decision in years."
- "Another post written by Mr. Prevost, according to The Daily Beast, told people to “Keep [their] powder dry,” because there is a “war right here at home, a war for our streets and neighborhoods.”"