Definition of Go off at half-cock

1. 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"

Exact synonyms: Go Off Half-cocked
Generic synonyms: Act, Move

Lexicographical Neighbors of Go Off At Half-cock

go in one ear and out the other
go in with
go into
go into one's shells
go it alone
go jump in the lake
go kaflooey
go large
go mad
go moggy
go native
go nowhere
go nuts
go off
go off at half-cock (current term)
go off at score
go off half-cocked
go off into the weeds
go off on one
go off the boil
go off the reservation
go on
go out
go out like a light
go out of one's way
go out on a limb
go out the window
go over
go over like a lead balloon

Literary usage of Go off at half-cock

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Reports of Cases Before the High Court and Circuit Courts of Justiciary in by Scotland High Court of Justiciary, Archibald Swinton (1838)
"It was not a lock to go off at half cock. ALEXANDER GRAY, MD residing in Carnwath proved the medical report libelled on, which stated, that in company with ..."

2. Retrospect of Philosophical, Mechanical, Chemical, and Agricultural Discoveries (1806)
"... Portland-place, presented to the Society of Arts a gun-lock, so formed, that it could not1 by any accident, go off at half-cock (as, the more forcibly ..."

3. St. Nicholas by Mary Mapes Dodge (1916)
""Now don't go off at half-cock," he added quickly, as Dale's lips parted impulsively. "I 've told you I had nothing to do with it in any way. ..."

4. Florida and the Game Water-birds of the Atlantic Coast and the Lakes of the by Robert Barnwell Roosevelt (1884)
"Every precaution should therefore be taken ; and if by accident the gun which cannot go off at half-cock shall be discharged in cocking or ..."

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