cock (redirected from cocks eye)

cock a snook at someone

to show or express defiance or scorn at someone. He cocked a snook at the traffic cop and tore up the ticket. The boy cocked a snook at the park attendant and walked on the grass.

See also: snook

cock of the walk

someone who acts more important than others in a group. The deputy manager was cock of the walk until the new manager arrived. He loved acting cock of the walk and ordering everyone about.

See also: walk

cock-and-bull story

a hard-to-believe, made-up story; a story that is a lie. Don't give me that cock-and-bull story. I asked for an explanation, and all I got was your ridiculous cock-and-bull story!

See also: story

go off half-cocked

Fig. to go into action too early or without thinking. (Originally refers to a flintlock or matchlock gun firing prematurely, before the trigger was pulled.) Don't go off half-cocked. Plan out what you're going to do. Bill went off half-cocked and told everybody he was running for the state legislature.

knock something into a cocked hat

Fig. to demolish a plan, a story, etc. I knocked his plans into a cocked hat. This bad weather has knocked everything into a cocked hat.

See also: hat, knock

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a cock-and-bull story  (informal)

a story or explanation which is obviously not true She told me some cock-and-bull story about her car breaking down.

See also: story

cock a snook  (British old-fashioned)

to show that you do not respect something or someone by doing something that insults them (usually + at ) In the end he refused to accept his award, cocking a snook at the film industry for which he had such contempt.

See also: snook

go off at half-cock  (old-fashioned) also go off half-cocked (old-fashioned)

to suddenly give your opinion without preparing what you are saying or understanding the subject you are talking about, often because you are angry You don't listen. You just go off at half-cock without even hearing the end of my sentence.

the cock of the walk  (British old-fashioned)

a man who acts as if he is more fashionable or important than other people He acts like the cock of the walk around the office.

See also: walk