half-cocked

[ haf-kokt, hahf- ]

/ ˈhæfˈkɒkt, ˈhɑf- /

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See synonyms for half-cocked on Thesaurus.com

adjective

(of a firearm) at the position of half cock.

lacking mature consideration or enough preparation; ill-considered or ill-prepared; half-baked.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about half-cocked

go off half-cocked, to act or happen prematurely: He went off half-cocked and told everyone the news.Also go off at half cock.

Origin of half-cocked

First recorded in 1800–10

Words nearby half-cocked

half cent, half-century, half-circle, half-closed, half cock, half-cocked, half-completed, half-concealed, half-conscious, half-convinced, half-cooked

How to use half-cocked in a sentence

But here again, Perry is not the half-cocked yahoo his critics assume.
Rick Perry’s Secret Weapon|Michelle Cottle|August 29, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Today at last those half-cocked plans of revival have resulted in some worthy 21st-century developments.
'Heroic Old Warhorse'|Jan Morris|February 18, 2011|DAILY BEAST
We stood at a rest in the line, with guns half-cocked and bayonets fixed, momentarily awaiting the appearance of the foe.
Eleven days in the militia during the war of the rebellion|A Militiaman
You are told this much of the truth so that you won't go off half-cocked with a fine collection of rather dangerous untruths.
The Fourth R|George Oliver Smith

The burghers gazed at it for a time in silent awe, as a wary housewife does at a gun, fearful it may go off half-cocked.
Knickerbocker's History of New York, Complete|Washington Irving
Tempers will go off half-cocked even among men of good habit.
The Armed Forces Officer|U. S. Department of Defense
Thoroughness is the way of duty, rather than a speed which goes off half-cocked.
The Armed Forces Officer|U. S. Department of Defense

British Dictionary definitions for half-cocked

half-cocked

adjective

(of a firearm) at half-cock

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

half-cocked

Idioms about half-cocked

Origin of half-cocked

Words nearby half-cocked

Words related to half-cocked

How to use half-cocked in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for half-cocked