go off half-cocked

Also found in: Idioms.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Verb1.go off half-cocked - 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"
go off at half-cock
act, move - perform an action, or work out or perform (an action); "think before you act"; "We must move quickly"; "The governor should act on the new energy bill"; "The nanny acted quickly by grabbing the toddler and covering him with a wet towel"
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
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References in periodicals archive
One reason that silent people become so quiet is they themselves are sensitive to the power in words and don't prefer to go off half-cocked. Words can be scorching, sharp as knives, explosive as bombs.
Rules of engagement: What we say matters, and the louder the talk the closer it is to worthless
But they were also worried about a citizenry that would go off half-cocked and vote in a tyrant.
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