fire blanks

fire blanks

slang Of a man, to have no sperm in his semen. We already know that Emma is healthy, so if she can't get pregnant, I must be firing blanks.
See also: blank, fire
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

fire blanks

BRITISH
If someone fires blanks, they try hard but fail to achieve something. Dalian and his fellow attackers continued to fire blanks against Liverpool and it was left to full-back Staunton to provide United's first goal. Note: Blanks are gun cartridges which contain explosive but do not contain a bullet, so that they do not cause any injuries or damage when the gun is fired.
See also: blank, fire
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

fire blanks

(of a man) be infertile. informal
The expression is based on the idea of a gun firing blank cartridges.
See also: blank, fire
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • shoot blanks
  • blank check
  • a blank check
  • a blank cheque
  • cheque
  • chism
  • great with child
  • give a blank check to (one)
  • oven
  • jizzum
References in periodicals archive
South Flintshire Inspector Steve Owens said: "I am appealing for any information about this firearm, designed to fire blanks, but which has the potential to be converted into a viable weapon.
Handgun found near cemetery
The post Police to fire blanks during exercises on Thursday, Friday appeared first on Cyprus Mail .
Police to fire blanks during exercises on Thursday, Friday
While it was originally designed to fire blanks, it is capable of easily being converted to firing live rounds.
Gun seized as 3 arrested in house raids
Fortunately, a gifted armorer was able to convert a revolver to appear like a semiauto Luger and fire blanks.
HOLLYWOOD HARDWARE
Houben, who has a strike rate of 80 percent, has claimed that he doesn't fire blanks. ( ANI )
Man who has fathered 98 kids offering free sex service
ySTANBUL (CyHAN)- The Ministry of Customs and Trade responded to a recent Turkish media report which said Turkey has exported 47 tons of arms to Syria, saying that no war weapons were sent to Syria and explaining that the only weapons that were sent to Syria were ungrooved hunting rifles and pistols that fire blanks, both used solely for sporting purposes.
Gov't responds to report on arms sales to Syria
Antimo Tranter, 52, who had modified a revolver to fire blanks, was arrested in June after a former partner reported him to police.
Jail escape for balloon gun cowboy
Armorers, remove the stops before your M2s go to the firing range to fire blanks or you'll likely never see the stops again.
Hotshot shooting help!
The Italian .380 Bruni BBM revolver is designed to fire blanks but can be easily converted illegally to shoot live ammunition.
Crime gang starter gun is outlawed; POLICE
Moreover, Cork continue to fire blanks in front of goal.
Monaghan look set to shine; LEAGUE OF IRELAND
Van Marwijk is worried star forwards Rafael van der Vaart and Klaas Jan Huntelaar will fire blanks because they're stuck on the Bernabeu bench.
Bert has a Real worry; SCOTLAND: THE ROAD TO SOUTH AFRICA..
When they arrested the 21-year-old they also seized a revolver which, it was found, could only fire blanks.
Armed police hold gunman; FLAT SURROUNDED AFTER PHONE CALL
Shrewsbury Crown Court was told police scientists believed the gun was originally designed to fire blanks but had been tampered with to fire live rounds.
NEWS DIGEST: Hapless gunman
We look like a side with no gunpowder in the barrel; a side which is firing blanks and will continue to fire blanks until we get a proven goalscorer with a determination to get in the box and make the opposition hurt where it matters.
Tommy SMITH: Dour Reds' lack of heart is so tough to take
Police today launched an investigation into how the replica automatic handgun - designed to fire blanks but with a home-made conversion to allow for live bullets - came to be dumped in the hedge of a family house in Cherrybrook Way, Bell Green.
BOYS FIND LOADED GUN IN CITY STREET; Aunt stops six-year-old pulling trigger