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Meaning of 'Go off half-cocked'

What does the saying 'Go off half-cocked' mean?

Idiom: Go off half-cocked

Meaning:

If you go off half-cocked, you take a rash action without being prepared for the consequences. It refers to an old fashioned single action revolver, which had a half-cock position in the action where it would supposedly not fire. If you made a mistake and it was at full cock, you would fire prematurely, possibly with devastating results.

Country: International English | Subject Area: General | Usage Type: Both or All Words Used
All idioms have been editorially reviewed. Submitted idioms may have been edited for correctness and completeness.
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