at full cock

at full cock

Of a gun, with its hammer positioned as far back as possible in order to allow it to be fired with minimal pressure on the trigger. In movies, the thug usually puts his gun at full cock to show that he's serious.
See also: cock, full
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

at full cock

(of a firearm) with the cock lifted to the position at which the trigger will act.
See also: cock, full
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • at half cock
  • come under the hammer
  • come/go under the hammer
  • go under the hammer
  • hammer (something) into (someone or something)
  • hammer into
  • hammer into and pound into
  • hammer down
  • go at (one) hammer and tongs
  • be/go at somebody/something hammer and tongs
References in classic literature
He refilled the clip, threw a cartridge into the chamber, and, with the trigger at full cock, thrust up the safety ratchet.
Burning Daylight
His revolver, which for four days had been at full cock by his side, stole out and covered the approaching shadow stealing gradually nearer and nearer.
A Millionaire of Yesterday
Jaralson was making a vigilant circumspection of the forest, his shotgun held in both hands and at full cock, his finger upon the trigger.
Can Such Things Be
First of all I loaded all the rifles, placing them at full cock, and informed him that if he touched them they would go off.
King Solomons Mines
Most shooters who carry one use the cocked-and-locked mode--full magazine, cartridge in the chamber, hammer at full cock and manual safety engaged.
SAFE CARRY MODES
The term "triple action" indicated that the revolver could be fired three ways: cocking the hammer single-action (SA) style, by pulling the trigger and firing it DA, and by pulling the trigger carefully to the rear where the hammer could be rested at full cock and subsequently be fired by a light touch on the trigger.
TRIPLE-ACTION PINFIRE?
At full cock, you can feel the lateral movement of the cylinder, but when the hammer falls, everything tightens right up.
Colt Python
In terms of function, the safety on all versions can be engaged only when the hammers are at full cock. There is a half-cock notch on the hammer.
Browning hi-power then & now: John M. Browning's last creation still serves, and serves well
The accompanying diagram shows the trigger mechanism at full cock with the sear engaging the hammer and the drop safety activated.
Disassembly/reassembly of the Steyr AUG bullpup, part 2: a look at Austria's famed military rifle. Getting further into and maintaining the trigger mechanism group of this Austrian-built, military bullpup-style rifle
With an exposed-hammer handgun I press the hammer forward when at full cock to test if the hammer will travel forward.
Under the hood; you wouldn't buy a car without kicking the tires; don't purchase a pistol without checking just as carefully
By the time he came to a halt at the base of the ridge, I had ol' Grizzler at full cock and the sights on the buck.
Grizzler's first hunt: who in his right mind would hunt with a primitive "front stuffer" instead of a modern scoped centerfire rifle on the first day of Missouri's 2008 firearms season? The author, that's who!
They were off the mark faster than a hungry housewife on supermarket sweep - the taps on the supply line to Lisbie and Shaun Bartlett at full cock right from the off.
Football: A SHAME SVEN DID A ROON-ER; Charlton 2 Everton 1 He misses Wayne and Charlton winner 2
Of adequate size and shape, it can be activated only with the hammer at full cock, and doing so will not drop the hammer.
Velvet revolution it's time to celebrate 40 years of the CZ 75
With the hammer at full cock and the safety engaged, the slide is not locked and you can cycle the slide and watch the ammo proceed into the chamber or out through the port.
Better than ever: the Colt .380 Mustang Pocket Lite
After you've removed the mainspring-tube assembly(including the follower), place the hammer at full cock and withdraw the bolt assembly from the receiver.
BLR firing-pin removal