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trigger-happy. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
trigger-happy, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
trigger-happy in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
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English
Etymology
From trigger + happy.
Adjective
trigger-happy (comparative more trigger-happy, superlative most trigger-happy)
- Having a tendency or desire to shoot a firearm irresponsibly before adequately identifying the target.
The bystanders were indiscriminately gunned down by trigger-happy gang members.
1971, “Inner City Blues”, in What's Going On, performed by Marvin Gaye:Crime is increasing / Trigger happy policing / Panic is spreading / God knows where we're heading
1980, Jagger–Richards, “Claudine”, performed by The Rolling Stones:Claudine / Don't get trigger happy with me / Don't wave a gun at me
- (by extension) Inclined to behave recklessly or violently at the slightest provocation.
Be careful when you work near him; he's trigger-happy with that chain-saw.
He was so trigger-happy that he wheeled and punched me when I brushed by him in the hall.
2021 December 6, Kenny Coyle, “A new stage of resistance: Burmese communists return to armed struggle”, in Morning Star:In a country like Burma, where the trigger-happy ruling elite resorted to arms even against unarmed students on university campuses, we have drawn lessons from history. It has taught us to resort to arms when fighting against fully armed demons.
Translations
having a tendency or desire to shoot a firearm irresponsibly
inclined to behave recklessly
See also