dry powder

短语

词形变化

dry powders 复数 dry powders

释义与例句

n.
  1. 1.

    A powder found in a fire extinguisher that is expelled to smother the fire (in contrast with liquid types of extinguisher).

    可数 不可数
  2. 2.

    A powder found in an inhaler that delivers a bronchodilator for antiasthmatic or antiemphysemic purposes (indications).

    可数 不可数
  3. 3.

    Cash (or cash-like securities) kept in reserve in case of need.

    可数 不可数 商务 金融

    Private equity firms were sitting on more than $1 trillion in dry powder at the end of 2011.

  4. 4.

    Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see dry, powder; especially, gunpowder kept dry to keep it from spoiling before use.

    可数 不可数

词源

The financial sense comes by metaphor from the sense of gunpowder kept dry to allow rapid loading of a firearm, as in the expression “keep one's powder dry”.

来源：wiktionary