【英国问答】fire in anger(2/2)
Could you, please, explain the meaning of the phrase "to fire or shoot (something or someone) in anger", and provide a paraphrase. I realise it doesn't actually mean to fire or shoot because one is angry. But I'm also unsure whether the phrase "to fire in anger" is used specifically in a war context or also applies to non-military conflicts.
Hints:
Argentine
General Belgrano
Falklands
HMS Conqueror
VII Corps
Pierre
World War I
英式拼法，全部不加双引号
http://t1.g.hjfile.cn/listen/201303/20130330011734826905.mp3Interestingly, as far as I could tell, the non-military websites used the phrase to mean to shoot angrily, or as you say in your question, to shoot because one is angry. For example.
The man waved his gun around, shouting and shooting in anger.
So I think the best answer to your question is that fire in anger has two meanings, depending on whether the context is military or non-military.
The military meaning is in a real situation, not for practice and has no connection with the emotion of the person or thing doing the shooting. You'll notice that from these authentic examples of the phrase, as used in a military context.
The sinking of the Argentine cruiser, General Belgrano, during the Falklands war by HMS Conqueror, the first British nuclear submarine ever to fire in anger, is fully recounted.
The first military guns in World War I to fire its guns in anger on British soil
becoming the first VII Corps unit to fire in anger since World War II.
Now, in contrast, the non-military use of fire in anger implies strong emotion. In our previous example, we heard how
The man waved his gun around, shouting and shooting in anger.
So it's clearly implied that the gunman was extremely upset, distressed and angry about something he felt was very important.
I hope this helps, Pierre, and special thanks to my Military English colleagues for their expert knowledge.
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