go off half-cocked

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Verb

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"

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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

"One thing I'm not going to do is go off half-cocked like Mr.

Rick Perry's Criminal Case Officially Dismissed

But they were also worried about a citizenry that would go off half-cocked and vote in a tyrant.