half-cocked
[ haf-kokt, hahf- ]
/ ˈhæfˈkɒkt, ˈhɑf- /
adjective
(of a firearm) at the position of half cock.
lacking mature consideration or enough preparation; ill-considered or ill-prepared; half-baked.
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RELATED WORDS
Nearby words
half-cell, half-century, half-circle, half-closed, half-cock, half-cocked, half-completed, half-concealed, half-conscious, half-convinced, half-cooked
Idioms
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
Definition for half-cocked (2 of 2)
half-cock
[ haf-kok, hahf- ]
/ ˈhæfˈkɒk, ˈhɑf- /
verb (used with object)
to set the hammer of (a firearm) at half cock.
Origin of half-cock
First recorded in 1825–35
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for half-cocked
British Dictionary definitions for half-cocked (1 of 2)
half-cocked
adjective
(of a firearm) at half-cock
British Dictionary definitions for half-cocked (2 of 2)
half-cock
noun
on a single-action firearm, a halfway position in which the hammer can be set for safety; in this position the trigger is cocked by the hammer which cannot reach the primer to fire the weapon
go off at half-cock or go off half-cocked
- to fail as a result of inadequate preparation or premature starting
- to act or function prematurely
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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