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littlemissmartypants

(26,351 posts)
16. Actually...
Fri Jan 17, 2025, 05:34 PM
Jan 17
"They are not keeping their powder dry, it seems."



What's the meaning of the phrase 'Keep your powder dry'?
Be prepared and save your resources until they are needed.

What's the origin of the phrase 'Keep your powder dry'?
The allusion is to gunpowder which soldiers had to keep dry in order to be ready to fight when required. This advice reputedly originated with Oliver Cromwell during his campaign in Ireland. In Ballads of Ireland, 1856, Edward Hayes wrote:

“There is a well-authenticated anecdote of Cromwell. On a certain occasion, when his troops were about crossing a river to attack the enemy, he concluded an address, couched in the usual fanatic terms in use among them, with these words – ‘put your trust in God; but mind to keep your powder dry’.”
https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/keep-your-powder-dry.html

Recommendations

1 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Good for them! Mike 03 Jan 17 #1
Dump didn't learn the lesson that you don't win economic wars sakabatou Jan 17 #2
he doesn't have to win them. he just tells his cult he won them and they believe it. travelingthrulife Jan 17 #6
I'll always say it: Trump has his own cult sakabatou Jan 17 #7
He got beaten by Christia Freeland and Trudeau in 2018. Short lived tariffs & renegotiated NAFTA Bernardo de La Paz Jan 17 #12
Fucking Big Bully Mump Cha Jan 17 #3
A big thank you to Canada! IzzaNuDay Jan 17 #4
Good for them. sheshe2 Jan 17 #5
Yes! Hopefully Mexico does the same. no doubt China will make some moves. PortTack Jan 17 #8
I believe Claudia Shienbaum has said they will be issuing tariffs PortTack Jan 18 #20
Tit for Tat. speak easy Jan 17 #9
Look where we are now with our closest ally and friend, Canada, thanks to the incoming Imbecile-in-Chief. C0RI0LANUS Jan 17 #10
Felons can't enter Canada. nature-lover Jan 17 #13
Good. Trumpf didn't despoil Canada with his odious presence the first time as POTUS, but one of his hotels did. C0RI0LANUS Jan 17 #15
Canada is ready, but will roll it out in stages, if needed, so there is room in case tRump escalates. . . . nt Bernardo de La Paz Jan 17 #11
Those tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods would Mblaze Jan 17 #14
Actually... littlemissmartypants Jan 17 #16
Now, I don't want to appear partisan, but... GiqueCee Jan 17 #17
drumpf's "alleged" tariffs JoseBalow Jan 17 #18
Canadians voted in their own government. NotANeocon Jan 17 #19
How many times have we heard "trump has threatened"? calimary Jan 18 #21
A tariff should be called a Trump tax dalton99a Jan 18 #22
I'm confused a bit. Karma13612 Jan 18 #23
Smoot-Hawley all over again IbogaProject Jan 18 #24
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