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half-ass. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
half-ass, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
half-ass in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
half-ass you have here. The definition of the word
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English
Alternative forms
- (Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, UK) half-arse
Etymology
See half-assed.
Pronunciation
Adjective
half-ass (comparative more half-ass, superlative most half-ass)
- (vulgar) Produced in an incompetent or desultory manner, or of something lacking in quality or substance; of low rank; incompetent.
- 1969, The End of the Road by John Barth (page 155)
- the only abortion she could get even in the city would be a half-ass job by some half-ass doctor who could mess her up for the rest of her life
Translations
produced in an incompetent manner
Verb
half-ass (third-person singular simple present half-asses, present participle half-assing, simple past and past participle half-assed)
- (slang, vulgar, transitive) To perform a task incompletely or carelessly.
1999, W. Peter Iliff, Varsity Blues, spoken by Mox (James Van Der Beek):Now, we go out there and we half-ass it because we're scared, all we're left with is an excuse. We're always gonna wonder. But, we go out there and we give it absolutely everything… that's heroic.
- 2002, Guardians of the Eagle by John D. Messer (page 102)
- if you're working for me and I send you to do a job and you half-ass it, that reflects on me. In civilian life, we'd just fire you. Here I can't get rid of you.
Translations
See also