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

The final version of the report has not yet been published, but a leaked draft that emerged in recent days has been described as "half baked" and "watered down" by campaigners.

From BBC • Jun. 12, 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

He did not think her offensive or unfeminine or half baked or socialistic or any of the things he had been saying to himself at lengthening intervals for the last twenty-four hours.

From The Happiest Time of Their Lives by Miller, Alice Duer

Related Words

• idiotic
• ill-conceived
• witless