trigger-happy

[ trig-er-hap-ee ]

adjective

, Informal.

1. ready to fire a gun at the least provocation, regardless of the situation or probable consequences:

   a trigger-happy hunter.

2. heedless and foolhardy in matters of great importance and recklessly advocating action that can result in war:

   Some called him a trigger-happy candidate.

3. eager to point out the mistakes or shortcomings of others; aggressively or wantonly critical:

   He's a trigger-happy editor with a nervous blue pencil.

trigger-happy

adjective

1. tending to resort to the use of firearms or violence irresponsibly
2. tending to act rashly or without due consideration

Word History and Origins

Origin of trigger-happy¹

First recorded in 1940–45

Idioms and Phrases

Inclined to act violently at the slightest provocation, as in They feared that the President was trigger happy and would send in troops at the drop of a hat . This expression alludes to being too eager to fire a gun. [c. 1940]

Example Sentences

Jace Lacob: While watching this, I kept thinking to myself that the grumpy, trigger-happy dad should be played by James Caan.

From The Daily Beast

What the gun owner claims as self-defense often looks, on closer examination, more like trigger-happy recklessness.

From The Daily Beast

The more details emerge, the more it looks as if Martin was hunted and killed by a trigger-happy bully.

From The Daily Beast

But any action would be crushed by trigger-happy Republicans—and could cost votes in November.

From The Daily Beast

Dale Peterson Gets Trigger-Happy Is it possible to take the Constitution too seriously?

From The Daily Beast

However, a couple of trigger-happy vedettes let off their carbines at them, yelled, "The Rebs are coming!"

From Project Gutenberg

Uncle John provided our hunting excitement by turning out to be one of the trigger-happy types.

From Project Gutenberg

Suppose he broke surface right in front of a flock of trigger-happy Enforcers?

From Project Gutenberg

At least, he was reasonably sure that none of Klem Zareff's trigger-happy mercenaries would shoot him down coming in.

From Project Gutenberg

The man in charge saw Gilgamesh on the alarm screens and got trigger-happy.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• antagonistic
• bellicose
• belligerent
• cantankerous
• contentious
• energetic