gunfight

bring a knife to a gunfight

To come poorly prepared or equipped for some task, goal, competition, or confrontation. Often used in the negative as a forewarning or piece of advice. Make sure you have researched your position thoroughly and comprehensively before the debate. You don't want to bring a knife to a gunfight. If you haven't studied law, representing yourself in court is like bringing a knife to a gunfight.
See also: bring, gunfight, knife

don't bring a knife to a gunfight

Don't come poorly prepared or equipped for some task, goal, competition, or confrontation. Make sure you have researched your position thoroughly and comprehensively before the debate. You don't want to bring a knife to a gunfight. Of course you lost the trial—your whole case was based on speculation and anecdotal evidence. Next time, don't bring a knife to a gunfight.
See also: bring, gunfight, knife
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • bring a knife to a gunfight
  • don't bring a knife to a gunfight
  • at risk to (someone, something, or oneself)
  • at risk to yourself/somebody/something
  • do (something) at (one's) own risk
  • do something at your own risk
  • at (one's) own risk
  • risk
  • peril
  • at your peril
References in periodicals archive
Clashes occurred near the gunfight site as civilians tried to disrupt the operation against the militants.
Senior police officer and a militant killed in Kulgam, Kashmir
The post Police arrest gunfight suspect appeared first on Cyprus Mail .
Police arrest gunfight suspect
March 26: Two Hizbul-Mujahideen militants Shahbaz Ahmed Wani alias Rayees alias Kachoor of Belo village in Rajpora, Pulwama and Farooq Ahmed Hura of Nazneenpora village in Shopian were killed in a brief gunfight in Padgampora village in Awantipora area in south Kashmir's Pulwama district leading to protests and clashes.
Indian troops killed 291 Kashmiris in 2017: report
He said, "As the civilian protesters neared the gunfight site, the government forces fired live bullets, pellets and teargas shells.
Two militants, woman killed in Kashmir gun-battle
He was an expert shooter and survived a number of gunfights, including the famous gunfight at the O.K.
A toxic, tubercular traveler: according to legend, Doc Holliday, the infamous itinerant gambler/gunfighter, was one of the deadliest shootists of the Old West
Dhaka, Dhu-AlQa'dah 24, 1437, Aug 27, 2016, SPA -- Three suspected terrorists have been killed in a gunfight with security forces in the central Bangladeshi district of Narayanganj, dpa cited police as saying on Saturday.
Three suspected terrorists killed in Bangladesh gunfight
TEHRAN (FNA)- Two members of an armed group seizing the main police building in Yerevan, surrendered after a gunfight with police, head of Information and Public Relations of the Armenian Police Ashot Aharonian said Wednesday.
Two Members of Hostage Group Seized Yerevan Police Station Surrender after Gunfight
TWO HIZBUL Mujahideen militants were killed in a five- hour long gunfight in Bomai, Sopore, 60 km north of Srinagar.
7 militants killed in 4 days in Kashmir
A militant yet to be identified was killed in the ongoing gunfight at village Dardpora- Lolab in frontier Kupwara district, about 110 km northwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.
World news summary
In one track called Gunfight he writes about a destructive love saying: "Don't fall in love if you don't want a gunfight, if you are not prepared to fall.
Album lyrics tell of 'war' in a relationship
Jaweed Basharat, the governor of Baghlan province, said a gunfight broke out between two groups attending the wedding in Andarab district.
Wedding shootout leaves 21 dead; WORLD BULLETINS
by Pajhwok Monitor on 28 September, 2014 - 15:32 KABUL (Pajhwok): More than 20 insurgents have been killed in airstrikes and a gunfight in Pakistan's northwestern tribal areas near the Afghanistan border, officials said on Sunday.
21 militants killed in FATA strikes, clash
The deaths occurred during attacks on Taliban hideouts by Pakistani jets, a US drone strike, a gunfight at a security forces checkpoint and the bombing at a camp for displaced people.
23 militants, 7 civilians killed
ROME Sun Feb 9, 2014 (Reuters) - Italian police recaptured a suspected mafia mobster on Sunday after he escaped from police custody in a gunfight in which his brother was killed.
Italian police recapture mobster who fled after gunfight
Egypt's state news agency says a gunfight between two families in a Cairo market has left 15 people dead, including 13 who were burned to death.
Gunfight between two Cairo families leaves 15 dead