keep one's powder dry

idiom

old-fashioned
: to be calm and ready for a possible problem in the future
They don't know how the election will turn out, so for now they're just keeping their powder dry.

Dictionary Entries Near keep one's powder dry

Cite this Entry

“Keep one's powder dry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/keep%20one%27s%20powder%20dry. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!