half-cocked

American  

[haf-kokt] / ˈhæfˈkɒkt /

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.

---

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.

half-cocked British  

adjective

1. (of a firearm) at half-cock

---

Etymology

Origin of half-cocked

First recorded in 1800–10

Example Sentences

To Rafael’s bildungsroman amid half-cocked terrorists and a love triangle with their leaders, add a spy-novel parody, a kaleidoscopic Christ narrative, a battery of literary references and a portrait of Cuban life under socialism.

From New York Times • Sep. 2, 2022

Even though Musk’s tactics this month appeared unconventional or even half-cocked, merger-and-acquisition experts say his strategy incorporated sound negotiation principles — with a twist of his distinctive, unpredictable style.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 25, 2022

Others were also unenthusiastic, with Henry Hitchings giving it two stars in The Evening Standard, and The Hollywood Reporter describing it as "half-cocked".

From BBC • Jun. 6, 2018

Mrs. Ambrose, it continued, “helped put an end to the image of the D.C. Council as a refuge for small-bore politicians given to going off half-cocked on marginal issues.”

From Washington Post • Apr. 4, 2017

As much as I’d like to quit Miss Preston’s and make a dash for home, I’m a smart girl, and running across the country half-cocked is definitely not my style.

From "Dread Nation" by Justina Ireland

Related Words

• hasty
• ill-considered
• untimely