half-cocked

adjective

1. (of a firearm) at the position of half cock.
2. lacking mature consideration or enough preparation; ill-considered or ill-prepared; half-baked.

Idioms

3. go off half-cocked, to act or happen prematurely: He went off half-cocked and told everyone the news.Also go off at half cock.

verb (used with object)

1. to set the hammer of (a firearm) at half cock.

adjective

1. (of a firearm) at half-cock

noun

1. on a single-action firearm, a halfway position in which the hammer can be set for safety; in this position the trigger is cocked by the hammer which cannot reach the primer to fire the weapon
2. go off at half-cock or go off half-cocked
   1. to fail as a result of inadequate preparation or premature starting
   2. to act or function prematurely