half-cocked

1. Prematurely, impulsively, or rashly. Don't go off half-cocked and say something you'll regret later. I'll admit that I went off half-cocked when I sent that angry email before finding out what really happened. A: "Why isn't Dave talking to you right now?" B: "It's possible that I went off half-cocked and accused him of sabotaging my presentation."

2. slang Drunk. Do you remember last night at the bar at all? You were half-cocked. Well, I must have been half-cocked if I got up and did karaoke at the bar! Help him get home, will ya? He started drinking whiskey, and now he's half-cocked.

half-cocked

1. mod. unprepared. (see also go off half-cocked.) So he’s half-cocked. So what?

2. mod. alcohol intoxicated. He just sat there, half-cocked and singing.

half-cocked

Prematurely. Like “flash in the pan,” “half-cocked” is a phrase that comes from old firearms. The firing mechanism of a flintlock pistol or musket could be set at full cock, or ready to be discharged, or half cock, which was the equivalent of having a safety on a revolver. A weapon that went off while half-cocked did so prematurely, just like someone who loses his temper without considering the facts or consequences of a situation. To act too soon, especially in a rash or impetuous fashion, is to go off half-cocked.

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References in periodicals archive

He and his team acknowledge that they went off a bit half-cocked with the technology to support the "special order" business.

The Depot goes digital: how CEO Bob Nardelli is managing a $2 billion technology transformation

A word to you dreamers out there: Don't look at this advice and go off half-cocked talking to your spouse about how you're going to start raising ostriches and make $100,000 a year at it--and I doer care if you happen to live on a farm!

Getting on the road toward financial freedom: there are several basic steps that anyone can take to reach economic empowerment. Here are three of them

But at a time when serious political debate is hard to find, our leaders can offer dodgy dossiers and half-cocked claims as if they were good coin.

Uncritical masses: was the public too stupid to oppose the war in Iraq?

The half-cocked is never recommended for pre Series 80 Colts.

Questions & answers

Real friends would not have allowed him to announce such a half-cocked cabinet that treats Scotland with contempt.

Sunday Mail OPINION; Tony's alone

The delay is regrettable, but it is much better that we get the system right rather than introducing it half-cocked.

pounds 50m over budget and CSA project still delayed

"It's such a big event and the police wanted more consultation time, so rather than rush it and do it half-cocked we decided it would make more sense if we put it off until next year," Mr Smith said.

Pop festival bid runs out of time; ORGANISERS SHELVE PLANS FOR THIS SUMMER BUT LOOK TO 2001

Both were cast in director Suki Hawley's indie-rock road film Half-Cocked, and it was then, as O'Neil giggles, that the two "took the plunge." The lovers have since collaborated to create the haunting, countrified music of Retsin.

Tara's good muse

"We'll have to have a good look at ourselves individually, you can't turn up there half-cocked. To be fair to Glasgow, they played as if they had something to play for and we didn't," said Coughlan.

MUNSTER PAY THE PRICE AS THEY GET SMASHED BY GLAS; RABODIRECT RUGBY MUNSTER 5 GLASGOW WARRIORS 22

We won't go in half-cocked as there's so much at stake.

We can finish to the four

An unstable person with a hot temper was said to have a "hair trigger," and someone who behaved rashly was "goin' off half-cocked." Being told to "hold your fire" referred not just to refraining from shooting, but to speaking out of turn, interrupting others, or executing any kinds of actions not even remotely connected with shooting.

Our gutted glossary

If you're unsure of something and you don't ask you can go off half-cocked in the wrong direction saying the wrong things to the wrong folk.

David Wells

It's almost like the striker is only half-cocked. When I pull the trigger, the firing pin hits, but not hard enough to fire.

Rifle questions

Therefore if something is half-cocked, it is not ready.

Take a shot at collecting guns

Brough from Fazakerley had read the full story in the ECHO (Nov 9) about a new mosgue being built before picking up his pen half-cocked and writing an ill-informed letter.

Letter: Short points