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Region: General | Usage example: The startup acted ready, fire, aim and tangled itself in rewrites.

Ready, fire, aim

Meaning

Act impulsively before planning.

Usage

Used when criticizing hurried action.

Origin & History

Origin notes can vary by region and source; this page gives the commonly reported explanation and usage context.

Satirical order flipping the usual commands.

Business humor since mid-20th century.

Related Idioms

Ready, set, go

A command to begin immediately.

On a whim

Act impulsively without planning.

Against the clock

Racing to finish before time runs out.

More Idioms

Break the ice

To do or say something to relieve tension or get conversation going in a social situation.

Cut to the chase

Skip ahead to the most important or exciting part of something.

The ball is in your court

It is now your turn to take action or make a decision.

Throw in the towel

To concede defeat or admit a struggle isn't worth continuing.