trigger-happy
ready to fire a gun at the least provocation, regardless of the situation or probable consequences: a trigger-happy hunter.
heedless and foolhardy in matters of great importance and recklessly advocating action that can result in war: Some called him a trigger-happy candidate.
eager to point out the mistakes or shortcomings of others; aggressively or wantonly critical: He's a trigger-happy editor with a nervous blue pencil.
Origin of trigger-happy
1Words Nearby trigger-happy
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use trigger-happy in a sentence
Jace Lacob: While watching this, I kept thinking to myself that the grumpy, trigger-happy dad should be played by James Caan.
Fall-Winter TV Preview: Snap Judgments of 2013–14’s New Shows | Jace Lacob, Kevin Fallon | July 16, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTWhat the gun owner claims as self-defense often looks, on closer examination, more like trigger-happy recklessness.
The more details emerge, the more it looks as if Martin was hunted and killed by a trigger-happy bully.
But any action would be crushed by trigger-happy Republicans—and could cost votes in November.
Bloomberg’s Gun-Control Ad Is the Wrong Move for Obama | Adam Winkler | February 6, 2012 | THE DAILY BEASTDale Peterson Gets trigger-happy Is it possible to take the Constitution too seriously?
Rick Perry Pounces on Anita, Herman Cain’s Smoking Man, and More Crazy Campaign Ads (Video) | The Daily Beast Video | October 26, 2011 | THE DAILY BEAST
However, a couple of trigger-happy vedettes let off their carbines at them, yelled, "The Rebs are coming!"
Rebel Raider | H. Beam PiperUncle John provided our hunting excitement by turning out to be one of the trigger-happy types.
Inside John Barth | William W. StuartSuppose he broke surface right in front of a flock of trigger-happy Enforcers?
The Best Made Plans | Everett B. ColeAt least, he was reasonably sure that none of Klem Zareff's trigger-happy mercenaries would shoot him down coming in.
The Cosmic Computer | Henry Beam PiperThe man in charge saw Gilgamesh on the alarm screens and got trigger-happy.
The Lost Kafoozalum | Pauline Ashwell
British Dictionary definitions for trigger-happy
tending to resort to the use of firearms or violence irresponsibly
tending to act rashly or without due consideration
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with trigger-happy
Inclined to act violently at the slightest provocation, as in They feared that the President was trigger happy and would send in troops at the drop of a hat. This expression alludes to being too eager to fire a gun. [c. 1940]
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
Browse