half-cocked

half-cocked

1. Prematurely, impulsively, or rashly. Don't go off half-cocked and say something you'll regret later.
2. Drunk. Do you remember last night at the bar at all? You were half-cocked.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

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.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions

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.
Endangered Phrases by Steven D. Price
See also:
  • corkscrew
  • boozy
  • crump
  • cocked
  • funky-drunk
  • glazed drunk
  • cross-eyed drunk
  • half under
  • half-under
  • crosseyed
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