go off half-cocked

Meaning: To do or say something in haste or without adequate planning or preparation.

Example: “Don't go off half-cocked; read the contract before you sign.”

Origin: On old flintlock guns, "half cock" was the safety position of the hammer, from which the gun should not fire. A gun that went off at half cock fired too early. The figurative phrase for acting prematurely dates from the 19th century.

More English idioms

go out on a limb To take a risk.
go to the dogs To fall into disrepair; to deteriorate.
go with the flow To take a relaxed attitude towards life.
golden age A time when something is at its best.
good Samaritan A person who helps someone in trouble without thought of personal gain.
grasp at straws To act in desperation with little hope of success.

Explore another collection: Untranslatable Words

Words that capture a feeling or idea English needs a whole sentence for.

Sturmfrei The liberating feeling of having the house entirely to yourself — when parents or a partn…
Nunchi The subtle art of reading a room — sensing what people feel, what they need, and what is…
Han A deep collective feeling of sorrow, resentment, and longing born from historical injusti…

Browse all untranslatable words →

Keep exploring

Explore all idioms →

More idioms — The Absurd

More English idioms

Explore another collection: Untranslatable Words