Antonyms for hang fire

Grammar : Verb

Spell : fahyuh r

Phonetic Transcription : faɪər

Definition of hang fire

Origin : c.1200, furen, figurative, "arouse, excite;" literal sense of "set fire to" is from late 14c., from fire (n.). The Old English verb fyrian "to supply with fire" apparently did not survive into Middle English.
The sense of "sack, dismiss" is first recorded 1885 in American English (earlier "throw (someone) out" of some place, 1871), probably from a play on the two meanings of discharge: "to dismiss from a position," and "to fire a gun," fire in the second sense being from "set fire to gunpowder," attested from 1520s. Of bricks, pottery, etc., from 1660s. Related: Fired; firing. Fired up "angry" is from 1824. Firing squad is attested from 1904.

As in postpone : verb put off till later time
As in procrastinate : verb delay, put off doing
As in stymie : verb frustrate, hinder
As in suspend : verb delay, hold off
As in hang back : verb be reluctant
As in defer : verb hold off, put off

Example sentences :

It 's one thing to say she 's a wife: you hang fire when it 's to say she 's my sister-in-law.'
Extract from : « Lord Ormont and his Aminta, Complete » by George Meredith

If a dnouement seems to hang fire, hasten its progress by a thrashing.
Extract from : « The Heritage of Dress » by Wilfred Mark Webb

Well, you see—such things are often apt to hang fire for a long time.
Extract from : « Hedda Gabler » by Henrik Ibsen

For Marianne seemed to hang fire and hesitate over her departure.
Extract from : « It Never Can Happen Again » by William De Morgan

The answer was sharp, yet seemed, as soldiers say, to "hang fire" a second.
Extract from : « Ray's Daughter » by Charles King

If Ashley were to hang fire you wouldn't know where the devil you were.
Extract from : « The Street Called Straight » by Basil King

It seems to have that quality of mystery that belongs to all affairs of the kind when they hang fire.
Extract from : « The Quality of Mercy » by W. D. Howells

His inventions seemed to hang fire until introduced into Lancashire, when they were adopted by a Mr. Peel, Arkwright and others.
Extract from : « The Story of the Cotton Plant » by Frederick Wilkinson

If I put off writing the paper you asked me for, till I can do it conveniently, it may hang fire till this time next year.
Extract from : « On the Old Road, Vol. 2 (of 2) » by John Ruskin

We brushed up and watched the first signs of dawn through an open port; but the day seemed to hang fire.
Extract from : « The Maine Woods » by Henry David Thoreau

Synonyms for hang fire

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019