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go off half-cocked

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From the days of flintlock and caplock firearms, where the half-cock position of the hammer was both a rudimentary safety, and the proper position for priming the pan or inserting a percussion cap. The phrase was originally rendered, "to go off at half-cock."

Pronunciation

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Verb

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go off half-cocked (third-person singular simple present goes off half-cocked, present participle going off half-cocked, simple past went off half-cocked, past participle gone off half-cocked)

  1. (idiomatic, colloquial): To take a premature or ill-considered action.
    Make sure none of your men go off half-cocked and ruin this operation.

See also

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References

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