- half-cocked
-
adjective
Date: 1809
1. being at half cock
2. lacking adequate preparation or forethought <go off half-cocked>
New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.
half-cocked
Look at other dictionaries:
half cocked — also .half cock BrE [Date: 1800 1900; Origin: cock to get a gun ready to fire ] go off half cocked go off at half cock BrE to do something without enough thought or preparation, so that it is not successful … Dictionary of contemporary English
half-cocked — [haf′käkt΄] adj. having the hammer at half cock: said of a firearm ☆ go off half cocked 1. to go off too soon: said of a firearm 2. to speak or act thoughtlessly or too hastily: also go off at half cock … English World dictionary
half-cocked — half′ cocked′ adj. mil (of a firearm) held in the position of half cock • go off half cocked Etymology: 1800–10 … From formal English to slang
half-cocked — [ hæf kakt ] adjective go off half cocked AMERICAN INFORMAL to start doing something without being properly prepared, so that the results are not successful … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
half-cocked — 1. mod. unprepared. (See also go off half cocked.) □ So he’s half cocked. So what? □ You’re half cocked for everything you do. 2. mod. alcohol intoxicated. □ He just sat there, half cocked and singing … Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions
half-cocked — /haf kokt , hahf /, adj. 1. (of a firearm) at the position of half cock. 2. lacking mature consideration or enough preparation; ill considered or ill prepared; half baked. 3. go off half cocked, to act or happen prematurely: He went off half… … Universalium
half-cocked — /haf ˈkɒkt/ (say hahf kokt) adjective 1. (of a firearm) at half cock. 2. ill prepared: a half cocked explanation. –phrase 3. go off half cocked, to begin an action without having the capacity or ability to finish it …
half-cocked — ˈ ̷ ̷| ̷ ̷ adjective 1. : being at half cock 2. : lacking clear or rational preparation, knowledge, or intention go off half cocked also : stupid, foolish half c … Useful english dictionary
half-cocked — See go off half cocked … English idioms
half cocked — Synonyms and related words: a bit previous, adolescent, advanced, amateur, amateurish, at half cock, callow, dabbling, dilettante, dilettantish, far ahead, fledgling, forward, green, half assed, half baked, half grown, hasty, ill considered, ill… … Moby Thesaurus
