Phrase guide

bring a knife to a gunfight

verb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To enter into a confrontation or other challenging situation without being adequately equipped or prepared.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

5 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 拿著雞蛋碰石頭 /拿著鸡蛋碰石头 — to be inadequately equipped
  • Finnish: lähteä soitellen sotaan — to be inadequately equipped
  • Polish: przychodzić nieprzygotowany — to be inadequately equipped
  • Polish: przyjść nieprzygotowany — to be inadequately equipped
  • Spanish: a la guerra sin fusil — to be inadequately equipped