half-cocked

[ haf-kokt ]

adjective

1. (of a firearm) at the position of half cock.
2. lacking mature consideration or enough preparation; ill-considered or ill-prepared; half-baked.

half-cocked

adjective

1. (of a firearm) at half-cock

Word History and Origins

Origin of half-cocked¹

First recorded in 1800–10

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. go off half-cocked, to act or happen prematurely: Also go off at half cock.

   He went off half-cocked and told everyone the news.

Example Sentences

But here again, Perry is not the half-cocked yahoo his critics assume.

From The Daily Beast

Today at last those half-cocked plans of revival have resulted in some worthy 21st-century developments.

From The Daily Beast

We stood at a rest in the line, with guns half-cocked and bayonets fixed, momentarily awaiting the appearance of the foe.

From Project Gutenberg

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.

From Project Gutenberg

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.

From Project Gutenberg

Tempers will go off half-cocked even among men of good habit.

From Project Gutenberg

Thoroughness is the way of duty, rather than a speed which goes off half-cocked.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• hasty
• ill-considered
• untimely