View synonyms for hair trigger

hair trigger

noun

a trigger that allows the firing mechanism of a firearm to be operated by very slight pressure.

hair-trigger

[ hair-trig-er ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

easily activated or set off; reacting immediately to the slightest provocation or cause:
a hair-trigger temper.

hair trigger

a trigger of a firearm that responds to very slight pressure
informal.
1. any mechanism, reaction, etc, set in operation by slight provocation
2. ( as modifier )
  a hair-trigger temper

First recorded in 1815–25

First recorded in 1885–90

And, frankly, I never wanted to be one of those hair-trigger activists who bellows predictably at every anti-Israel affront.

On gun control, a hair-trigger issue for Republicans who pick the nominee, Christie is in the center or even center–left field.

Who looks strong and serious and intelligent and neither hair-trigger crazy nor like he could get rolled by the mullahs.

Combined feelings of embarrassment, sadness and regret for being on so precarious a hair trigger may surface.

With a series of Moon-Mars mashups, aggression is on a hair trigger.

Jason picked his words slowly, wondering if this savage shared the same hair-trigger temper as the city dwellers.

Seeing him determined both to fight and to choose fire-arms, Dumas recommended him at least not to use the hair-trigger pistol.

And hubby's hair-trigger temperament she now calls just plain temper.

Them fellers air allus on a hair-trigger when a mortgage falls in.

In it stirred the daring, the lawless adventure, the feverish ambition and the hair-trigger pride of argonauts from many lands.

April 21, 2024absquatulate

[ab-skwoch-uh-leyt ]

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