Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- adjective Responding to the slightest provocation or stimulation.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun a
trigger that will set off afirearm when even a verysmall pressure is applied - adjective
unstable , in a situation that could be worsened by the slightest mistake - adjective
easily angered , having a shorttemper
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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But if you think the ability to get our missiles off with less than fifteen minutes notice on potentially ambiguous or unconfirmed warning data in such a hectically compressed interval that you might be justified in using the phrase hair-trigger for it, I wouldn’t disagree.
How the End Begins Ron Rosenbaum 2011
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But if you think the ability to get our missiles off with less than fifteen minutes notice on potentially ambiguous or unconfirmed warning data in such a hectically compressed interval that you might be justified in using the phrase hair-trigger for it, I wouldn’t disagree.
How the End Begins Ron Rosenbaum 2011
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"It does mellow out the triggered response in a certain population," said Tendall, referring to hair-trigger anxiety reactions.
The Washington Post: National, World & D.C. Area News and Headlines - The Washington Post Brian Vastag 2011
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He also snaps at Senator John McCain, calling him a man "with a hair-trigger temper and a propensity to fashion and shift his positions to appeal to the media."
New Details Revealed From Rumsfeld's Memoir Marcus Baram 2011
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This hair-trigger sensitivity is frustrating in the short run but prevents problems later.
E-File or Else: What's New for Tax Season Laura Saunders 2011
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They are backed by growing numbers of tactical nuclear weapons that are on a three-minute hair-trigger alert, making Kashmir the world's most dangerous border.
Eric Margolis: Almost Forgotten: The World's Most Dangerous Conflict Eric Margolis 2011
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Thick, rugged winger with soft hands and a hair-trigger release.
Lower Canadian leagues, California churning out quality prospects 2010
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He also snaps at Senator John McCain, calling him a man "with a hair-trigger temper and a propensity to fashion and shift his positions to appeal to the media."
New Details Revealed From Rumsfeld's Memoir Marcus Baram 2011
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The hair-trigger response to an obscure board vote stems from the fractious history of the concerts—to many a symbol of the Williamsburg boom.
Brooklyn Party Poopers John Jurgensen 2011
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Tonight Sheldon Yellen, the CEO of home restoration company Belfor and a man with an emotional hair-trigger, breaks down in tears.
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