trigger-happy

American  

[trig-er-hap-ee] / ˈtrɪg ərˌhæp i /

adjective

Informal.

1. ready to fire a gun at the least provocation, regardless of the situation or probable consequences.

   a trigger-happy hunter.

2. heedless and foolhardy in matters of great importance and recklessly advocating action that can result in war.

   Some called him a trigger-happy candidate.

3. eager to point out the mistakes or shortcomings of others; aggressively or wantonly critical.

   He's a trigger-happy editor with a nervous blue pencil.

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trigger-happy British  

adjective

1. tending to resort to the use of firearms or violence irresponsibly

2. tending to act rashly or without due consideration

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trigger happy Idioms  

1. Inclined to act violently at the slightest provocation, as in They feared that the President was trigger happy and would send in troops at the drop of a hat. This expression alludes to being too eager to fire a gun. [c. 1940]

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Etymology

Origin of trigger-happy

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

Don’t get trigger-happy and sell because of headlines.

From Barron's

This trigger-happy litigiousness is lampooned in a satirical “60 Minutes” segment in which CBS-style anchors nervously report on protests against “the president, who is a great man.”

From Salon

Few owners are trigger-happy in the first two months and by April and May it's usually too late.

From BBC

Faced with the tightest job market in decades, many have become less trigger-happy with layoffs, even in the face of a cooling economy.

From Reuters

He remained steadfastly Freddy, the opposite of the cynical, traumatized, volatile, trigger-happy TV cop show stereotype.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• antagonistic
• bellicose
• belligerent
• cantankerous
• contentious
• energetic