disparar primero y preguntar después

A fixed phrase meaning 'to shoot first and ask questions later' — to act rashly before checking the facts. It is built on disparar, so it conjugates like any regular -ar verb in its first word: dispara primero y pregunta después.

• Tiene la costumbre de disparar primero y preguntar después. — He has a habit of shooting first and asking questions later.
• Es mejor no disparar primero y preguntar después. — It's better not to shoot first and ask questions later.
• El jefe dispara primero y pregunta después. — The boss acts first and asks questions afterwards.

Treating it as a single verb — only disparar conjugates; the rest of the phrase stays fixed. It is a loose, colloquial expression, so keep it for informal speech.

Often confused with disparar.