half-assed

Meanings

1. 1adjectivebefore a nouninformaldisapproving

   Done without care or effort, so that the result is poor or incomplete.

   Grammar: Used before a noun: a half-assed job. It can also come after a linking verb: The work was half-assed.

   Patterns

   • a half-assed attempt
   • a half-assed job
   • half-assed work

   He made a half-assed attempt to clean the kitchen and left dirty dishes in the sink.

   The report was half-assed; it had no real research and many spelling mistakes.

   She gave a half-assed apology, so nobody believed she was truly sorry.

2. 2adjectivebefore a nouninformaldisapproving

   Lacking energy or enthusiasm; not done with full commitment.

   Grammar: Describes a person's effort or attitude, often before a noun: a half-assed effort.

   Patterns

   • a half-assed effort
   • half-assed enthusiasm

   His half-assed effort at studying meant he failed the exam.

   They put in a half-assed performance and lost the match.

Common combinations

half-assed job

The builder did a half-assed job on the roof, and it leaks now.

half-assed attempt

She made a half-assed attempt to fix the computer, then gave up.

half-assed apology

His half-assed apology made her even angrier.

half-assed effort

If you make a half-assed effort, you won't succeed.

Synonyms and how they differ

sloppy

Sloppy means messy or careless, but half-assed stresses a lack of effort, not just untidiness.

careless

Careless means not paying enough attention; half-assed is stronger and suggests almost no real attempt.

incomplete

Incomplete means not finished, while half-assed often means finished but done poorly.

Opposites

Commonly confused: half-assed or half-hearted?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “half-assed”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Explore more words