English

Etymology
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 prime|priming the pan or inserting a percussion cap. The phrase was originally rendered, "to go off at half-cock."

Verb
go off half-cocked

1. idiom 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
flash in the pan
lock, stock and barrel

• 2007-08-27 18:45 - SemperBlotto - it's a verb

Full Revision History