go off half-cocked en · VERB
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
Etymology
Commonly believed to be 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 as "to go off at half-cock." However, this expression comes from archery. The coloured feather on an arrow is called the cock feather. The arrow must be drawn back fully so the arrow will fly the furthest distance. Going off half cocked means the arrow will not achieve its full power and not reach its target.
Meanings
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(colloquial, idiomatic) To take a premature or ill-considered action.
Make sure none of your men go off half-cocked and ruin this operation.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| go off at halfcock | alternative | lexicographic | |
| go off halfcocked | alternative | lexicographic | |
| going off half-cocked | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| go off at half cock | alternative | lexicographic | |
| went off half-cocked | Tense=Past | lexicographic | |
| goes off half-cocked | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic | |
| gone off half-cocked | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic |