hair trigger

Definition

Noun:
- A very sensitive trigger on a firearm: A "hair trigger" is a trigger mechanism on a gun that requires only a very slight touch or minimal pressure to fire the weapon. It is adjusted to have an extremely short, light pull.
- Figuratively, a state of extreme sensitivity or readiness to react: By extension, "hair trigger" describes a person, situation, or system that is poised to react instantly and explosively to the slightest provocation or stimulus.

Usage Examples

Noun (Literal):
- The competition shooter adjusted his pistol to have a hair trigger for faster response times.
- Handling a weapon with a hair trigger requires exceptional care and control.
Noun (Figurative):
- After the stressful week, his temper was on a hair trigger.
- The political situation in the region is balanced on a hair trigger, with the potential for conflict escalating from any minor incident.

Advanced Usage

"to have a hair trigger": To be extremely quick to react, often angrily or violently.
- Be careful what you say to him; he has a hair trigger when it comes to criticism.
"hair-trigger temper": A temper that is easily and immediately provoked.
- His hair-trigger temper made him difficult to work with during negotiations.
"hair-trigger response": An immediate, automatic, and often disproportionate reaction.
- The security system has a hair-trigger response to any unauthorized movement.

Variants and Related Words

Hair-trigger (adjective): Used attributively to describe the noun's characteristic of instant reactivity.
- The country was in a hair-trigger state of alert.
- She has a hair-trigger reflex for detecting errors.

Synonyms

Related Phrases

Quick on the trigger: Ready to act or react immediately. (This phrase shares the firearm metaphor but implies speed rather than excessive sensitivity).
Touchy: Easily upset or offended. (A simpler synonym for the figurative sense).

Noun