Go Off Half-Cocked

One sense of the phrasal verb go off is to explode, detonate, make a big noise or sound, and in regards to a gun, to fire, usually abruptly and without warning or accidentally. And it is from this phrasal verb that we get the idiom go off half-cocked.

Originally, to go off half-cocked referred to the hammer of a flintlock or matchlock gun only being half engaged in a supposedly secure position. These mechanisms sometimes slipped causing the gun to go off, or fire, unexpectedly and prematurely. This gave rise to the figurative meaning we have today.

Meaning of Idiom ‘Go Off Half-Cocked (British: Go Off At Half Cock)

To go off half-cocked means to act prematurely or hastily, without thinking it through or being adequately prepared; to act impulsively.

Often, it means to act not only hastily but rashly.

Half-cocked is also used as an adjective, as in ‘half-cocked plans’ or ‘half-cocked theories.’

Americans say ‘go off half-cocked’ while British folks may say ‘go off at half-cock.’

Examples Of Use

“I know you’re angry but don’t go off half-cocked. Take a few days to calm down first.”

“I went off at half cock and told my boss I quit. Luckily, he didn’t take me seriously. We’ve known each other for years.”

“You need to see a physical therapist. Don’t go off half-cocked and start exercising after such a bad accident.”

“Now me and Earl need to get out of this valley.” “Hang on. Let’s not go off half-cocked. Somebody’s bound to come check on us once they see the road is out and the lines are down.” — Tremors (1990)

“I got one officer an inch from dying, another, his head yanked off because you went off half-cocked after The Octopus.” — The Spirit (2008)

“If I tell you something, promise not to go off half-cocked?”  — The Curse of the Jade Scorpion (2001)

“Should we be on Code Red?” “We go to Code Red, the Russians go to Code Red. No sense going off half-cocked, Mr President.” — The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984)

“Wait a minute, men. Don’t let’s go off half-cocked and do something we’ll be sorry for. We want to act in a reasoned and legitimate manner. Not like a lawless mob.” — The Ox-Bow Incident (1943)

Origin

The phrasal verb ‘go off’ arose during the 1500s. To go off half-cocked dates from the 1700s.