half-baked

American  

[haf-beykt, hahf-] / ˈhæfˈbeɪkt, ˈhɑf- /

adjective

1. insufficiently cooked.

2. not completed; insufficiently planned or prepared.

   a half-baked proposal for tax reform.

3. lacking mature judgment or experience; unrealistic.

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half-baked British  

adjective

1. insufficiently baked

2. informal foolish; stupid

3. informal poorly planned or conceived

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Etymology

Origin of half-baked

First recorded in 1615–25

Explanation

You can use the adjective half-baked to describe your sadly underdone cupcakes, or in a figurative way to criticize your brother's crazy business idea. When something's half-baked, it's just never going to work. If your plan for moving to Iceland is half-baked, it means you haven't thought the whole thing through. This metaphorical meaning came from the original definition of half-baked, literally "baked halfway" or "underdone." If something's half-baked, nobody wants to eat it — it's useless. An idea or plan, likewise, is half-baked if isn't worth wasting time on.

Example Sentences

"My own sense is that what we are getting is completely half baked and it will not allow us to make any vaccines," he said.

From Reuters • Jun. 15, 2022

But she said the solution is "half baked" unless the city also provides safe places for displaced residents to go.

From Fox News • Jul. 29, 2021

I bring my own bias and half baked bag of baggage to the table every time.

From Salon • Sep. 1, 2018

I could care less what reviews say about this movie, won't watch anymore of these half baked remakes that Hollywood is shoving down our throats.

From New York Times • Jul. 10, 2016

Moreover, the bread with which he endeavoured to fortify this meagre commencement was half baked, so that it was of the consistency of dough.

From In the Day of Adversity by Bloundelle-Burton, John

Related Words

• idiotic
• ill-conceived
• witless