WitrynaUS. 1. to go off too soon. said of a firearm. 2. to speak or act thoughtlessly or too hastily. : also go off at half cock. See full dictionary entry for half-cocked. Webster’s New … WitrynaDefinition of gone off half-cocked in the Idioms Dictionary. gone off half-cocked phrase. What does gone off half-cocked expression mean? Definitions by the largest Idiom …

Meaning of "Going off half cocked" - phrase meaning and origin

WitrynaHalf-cock is when the position of the hammer is partially but not completely cocked. Many firearms, particularly older firearms, had a notch cut into the hammer allowing half-cock, as this position would neither allow the gun to fire nor permit the hammer-mounted firing pin to rest on a live percussion cap or cartridge. WitrynaAt half cock the hammer is resting on a notch that prevents it from contacting the firing pin. Half cock was a more common safety mechanism on really early single shot weapons and most modern striker fired pistols completely avoid this issue by not having a hammer. ELI5: if you drop the gun on the uncocked hammer it'll fire. selwood brothers books

HALF-COCK English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

Witryna5 wrz 2003 · : : it may have been a development from "half-cocked" which although sounding the more vulgar version, refers to the proper priming of firearms - something going off "half-cocked" is something ill-prepared and unlikely to work. Witryna24 mar 2024 · go off half-cocked in American English US 1. to go off too soon said of a firearm 2. to speak or act thoughtlessly or too hastily : also go off at half cock See full … Witrynaadjective. UK old-fashioned uk / ˌhɑːfˈkɒk / us / ˌhæfˈkɑːk /. go off at half-cock UK (US go off half-cocked) to fail because of not being well planned or because of starting too … selwood close thornaby