dry powder

Etymology
The financial sense comes by metaphor from the sense of gunpowder kept dry to allow rapid loading of a firearm, as in the expression “keep one's powder dry”.

Noun

 * 1) A powder found in a fire extinguisher that is expelled to smother the fire.
 * 2) A powder found in an inhaler that delivers a bronchodilator for antiasthmatic or antiemphysemic purposes (indications).
 * 3)  Cash (or cash-like securities) kept in reserve in case of need.
 * 4) ; especially, gunpowder kept dry to keep it from spoiling before use.
 * 1) ; especially, gunpowder kept dry to keep it from spoiling before use.

Translations

 * German: Löschpulver