itchy trigger finger
2
8.4
- noun
- Informal
- You need to be careful with your itchy trigger finger when responding to emails; take a moment to consider your response.
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Watch on YouTubeAnd I hope it's an object lesson for anyone on the left who has such an itchy trigger finger.
- And I hope it's an object lesson for anyone on the left who has such an itchy trigger finger.
Examples
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The manager's itchy trigger finger for firing employees left many feeling insecure about their jobs.
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People with itchy trigger finger should not play with guns.
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You and that itchy trigger finger of yours.
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I got an itchy trigger finger here, and I'm ready to blow some shit up.
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His itchy trigger finger often leads him to make hasty decisions without thinking them through.
Synonyms
3
5.9
A habit of acting quickly without thinking about the results
1
8.7
A tendency to act quickly without thinking, often causing problems
Antonyms
How Impulsive
Surface Forms
Morphology
The literal meanings of 'itchy' (wanting to act), 'trigger' (something that initiates action) and 'finger' (the digit used to pull a trigger) give learners a plausible metaphorical image of someone ready to initiate action, so part of the meaning is inferable. However, the phrase relies on a firearms-trigger metaphor and conventionalized idiomatic use (impulsiveness), which may not be fully predictable for a B1 learner without exposure or cultural knowledge. Because cues are present but understanding still requires metaphorical/cultural mapping, it is best classified as semi-transparent.
Etymology
Itchy trigger finger comes from the picture of a person holding a gun whose finger seems to itch to press the trigger, as if they want to shoot right away. That's why the phrase means 'to act without thinking'.