hunt and peck

American  

Or hunt-and-peck

noun

1. a slow and inefficient method of typing by looking for each key separately before striking it: used by untrained typists.

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Etymology

Origin of hunt and peck

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

I just kind of hunt and peck now.

From Salon • Jan. 19, 2020

“He’s aggressive. Before, it seemed like he would hunt and peck a little bit. Now he makes a decision and gets upfield. He’s breaking tackles instead of trying to dance out of things.”

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 27, 2016

Three friendly goats hoping for a handout of lettuce leaves wander over to the fence that pens them in, while a flock of chickens hunt and peck.

From New York Times • Apr. 25, 2013

I, at least, need to hunt and peck with two fingers to type on my iPad, slowing me down considerably.

From Slate • Aug. 18, 2011

And back in Washington, the Japanese ambassadors wait for a lackey to hunt and peck his way through an ultimatum that they deliver to the Secretary of State 55 minutes after the attack.

From Time Magazine Archive

Related Words

• copy
• transcribe
• write