Meaning & use
limp wristing
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Meanings
noununcountableinformaltechnical
the act of holding a firearm with a weak or relaxed wrist, often causing it to jam or fail to cycle properly
Grammar: Used as an uncountable noun. It is the -ing form of the verb 'limp-wrist', but it usually functions as a noun in shooting contexts.
Patterns
- limp wristing causes a jam
- the problem of limp wristing
- suffering from limp wristing
The instructor said that limp wristing was the reason the pistol kept jamming.
New shooters often struggle with limp wristing until they learn to grip firmly.
He corrected his limp wristing by locking his wrist before each shot.
verbintransitiveinformaltechnical
to hold a firearm with a weak, relaxed wrist, especially in a way that causes it to malfunction
Grammar: Used without an object, often in the -ing form: 'He was limp wristing.' It can also be written with a hyphen: limp-wristing.
Patterns
- limp wrist a gun
- limp wristing the pistol
If you limp wrist the gun, it may not eject the empty case.
She was limp wristing during practice, so the shots went off target.
Word forms
| third person singular | limp wrists |
|---|---|
| past tense | limp wristed |
| past participle | limp wristed |
| -ing form | limp wristing |
Common combinations
- suffer from limp wristing
- Many beginners suffer from limp wristing when they first use a semi-automatic pistol.
- correct limp wristing
- The coach showed him how to correct limp wristing with a firmer grip.
- limp wristing causes a malfunction
- Limp wristing causes a malfunction because the slide doesn't move back fully.
- avoid limp wristing
- To avoid limp wristing, keep your wrist straight and firm.
Synonyms and how they differ
- weak wrist
- A more general description of the physical position, not a technical shooting term.
Opposites
Word family
- limp-wristed adjective
- having a weak or relaxed wrist; also used informally to describe someone as weak or ineffective
Commonly confused: limp wristing or limping?
limp wristing vs limping
Limping means walking with difficulty because of an injured leg; it is not related to holding a gun.
Practice
The pistol jammed because the shooter was ______.
Choose one answer.
The continuous form 'limp wristing' fits after 'was' to describe the action causing the jam. 'Limping' means walking with difficulty, 'limp wristed' is an adjective, and 'limp wrists' is a plural noun, so none of them fit the grammar here.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “limp wristing”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.