П378
ДЕРЖАТЬ ПОРОХ СУХИМ //7
VPsubj:
human,
usu. pl, or
collect) (of soldiers, an army
etc) to be prepared to defend one's country (cause
etc) at any moment: Х-ы держат порох сухим - Xs keep their powder dry.
Attributed to Oliver Cromwell, addressing his troops as they prepared to cross a stream or river before battle, possibly the Battle of Edgehill in Oct. 1642. The reference is presumably to gunpowder, which would be useless if wet.
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П379 →← П377