to go off half-cock

См. также в других словарях:

• half cock — noun 1. : the position of the hammer of a firearm when about half retracted and held by the sear so that it cannot be operated by a pull on the trigger 2. : a state of inadequate preparation or mental confusion used with at the whole project went …   Useful english dictionary

• half cock — noun Date: 1745 1. the position of the hammer of a firearm when about half retracted and held by the sear so that it cannot be operated by a pull on the trigger 2. chiefly British a state of inadequate preparation or mental confusion < go off at… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

• half cock — see go off at half cock half 1 (11) …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

• half-cock — UK / US noun go off at half cock …   English dictionary

• go off at half-cock — verb act prematurely or without reflection or too soon she wanted to quit her job but her mother told her not to go off half cocked • Syn: ↑go off half cocked • Hypernyms: ↑act, ↑move • Verb Frames: Somebody s …   Useful english dictionary

• go\ off\ at\ half\ cock — • go off half cocked • go off at half cock v. phr. informal To act or speak before getting ready; to do something too soon. Bill often goes off half cocked. Mr. Jones was thinking about quilting his job, but his wife told him not to go at half… …   Словарь американских идиом

• go off at half cock — (informal) To begin too soon, when not properly prepared • • • Main Entry: ↑cock …   Useful english dictionary

• go off at half cock — Meaning Act hastily. Origin Flintlock rifles can be fired from full cock or half cock but only work well from full cock …   Meaning and origin of phrases

• go off at half-cock — old fashioned, old fashioned to suddenly give your opinion without preparing what you are saying or understanding the subject you are talking about, often because you are angry. You don t listen. You just go off at half cock without even hearing… …   New idioms dictionary

• go off half-cocked — verb act prematurely or without reflection or too soon she wanted to quit her job but her mother told her not to go off half cocked • Syn: ↑go off at half cock • Hypernyms: ↑act, ↑move • Verb Frames: Somebody s …   Useful english dictionary

• To go off half-cocked — Halfcock Half cock ( k[o^]k ), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Halfcocked}( k[o^]kt); p. pr. & vb. n. {Halfcocking}.] To set the cock of (a firearm) at the first notch. [1913 Webster] {To go off half cocked}, {To go off halfcocked}. (a) To be discharged… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English