hair trigger
Minimal pressure activates
A hair trigger is a gun trigger requiring very little pressure to fire, making the weapon quick to discharge but dangerous if handled carelessly.
The term extends to anything that responds with minimal provocation: a hair-trigger temper flares at the slightest irritation.
As a modifier, it describes hypersensitivity or readiness to react: hair-trigger reflexes, hair-trigger alert.
Excessively reactive to stimuli
- touchyEasily upset or offended
- jumpyNervously reactive to stimuli
- twitchyNervously prone to spasms
- edgyTense and irritable
skittish · overreactive · hyperreactive · knee-jerk · split-second · instantaneous · zero tolerance · on edge
Easily provoked to anger
- irascibleProne to outbursts
- quick-temperedProne to sudden anger
- explosiveProne to sudden detonation
- volatileLiable to sudden change
fiery · hot-blooded · choleric · snappish · irritable · testy · thin-skinned · quick to anger
Dangerously insecure
- riskyInvolving possible harm
- unstableProne to sudden change
- perilousFraught with danger
- accident-proneTending toward mishaps
unsafe · hazardous · powder keg · tinderbox · on the brink · high-stakes · critical
Burn the outside
- firing pinPrimer-striking gun component
- hammerTool for striking nails
- safety catchDevice preventing accidental firing
- boltThreaded rod for nuts
receiver · chamber · action · breech · disconnector · spring · ejector · rifle
Precisely calibrated for optimal results
- calibratedAdjusted for accuracy
- adjustedChanged to improve fit
- target shootingPrecision firing sport
- competitionStruggle for supremacy
sharpshooter · marksman · accuracy · custom · gunsmithing
hypersensitive
Excessively reactive to stimuli
edgy · skittish · overreactive · hyperreactive · knee-jerk · split-second · instantaneous · zero tolerance · on edge · primed
hotheaded
Easily provoked to anger
- irascibleProne to outbursts
- quick-temperedProne to sudden anger
- explosiveProne to sudden detonation
volatile · fiery · hot-blooded · choleric · snappish · irritable · testy · thin-skinned · quick to anger · fly off the handle
precarious
Dangerously insecure
accident-prone · unsafe · hazardous · powder keg · tinderbox · on the brink · high-stakes · critical
sear
Burn the outside
- firing pinPrimer-striking gun component
- hammerTool for striking nails
- safety catchDevice preventing accidental firing
bolt · receiver · chamber · action · breech · disconnector · spring · ejector · rifle · pistol
fine-tuned
Precisely calibrated for optimal results
- calibratedAdjusted for accuracy
- adjustedChanged to improve fit
- target shootingPrecision firing sport
competition · sharpshooter · marksman · accuracy · custom · gunsmithing
- emotional volatilitymood swings, lability, volatility, dysregulation, ups and downs
- triggerssear, single action, double action, firing pin, striker
- gun accessoriesscope, scopes, holster, foregrips, sling
- gun partsbarrel, barrels, bolt, bolts, hammer
- close callsclose call, near miss, narrow escape, close shave, nick of time
- overreactfreak out, panic, explode, blow up, meltdown
hair triggersafety
Freedom from harm
safety mechanism · trigger lock · safety catch · grip safety · fail-safe
hair triggereven-tempered
Reliably calm disposition
unflappable · cool-headed · patient · imperturbable · measured
hair, trigger, hairs, haired, hairy, hairless, hairiness, triggers, triggered