hair trigger

¹

noun

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

hair-trigger

²

[hair-trig-er]

adjective

1. easily activated or set off; reacting immediately to the slightest provocation or cause.

   a hair-trigger temper.

hair trigger

noun

1. a trigger of a firearm that responds to very slight pressure

2. informal

   1. any mechanism, reaction, etc, set in operation by slight provocation

   2. ( as modifier )

      a hair-trigger temper

Word History and Origins

Origin of hair trigger¹

First recorded in 1815–25

Origin of hair trigger²

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

“These things were a little bit on a hair trigger,” Green said.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Who knew guns with hair triggers could be so shockingly lethal in elevators?

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“They can see this hair trigger mentality in the White House. Everybody is afraid.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The loosening of limits has occurred as violent political rhetoric rises and the police in some places fear bloodshed among an armed populace on a hair trigger.

Read more on New York Times

Rear buttons aside, the Scuf’s other big feature is its hair triggers, which have the quickest response of all the controllers tested here.

Read more on The Verge

Related Words

• critical 
• precarious 
• sensitive 
• ticklish 
• touchy 
• tricky 
• unpredictable 
• volatile