half-baked

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   Incomplete.

   • The guy had some half-baked idea for getting rich in the stock market.
   • Though Jevons's theory was more than half-baked, it needed more time in the oven, since he forgot to calculate that poor harvests in Asia would hit England only after a time lag.
   • A Cambridgeshire man recently gave notice with a message piped on top of a passion cake. A half-baked idea, or a generous parting gift for the office?
2. 2

   Mildly under the influence (of alcohol).

   • If you need to talk to John tonight, try to catch him early in the evening, while he's still only half-baked.
3. 3

   Used other than figuratively or idiomatically

   Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: Partially cooked by heating in an oven, either as an accidental outcome or as a work in process.

   • Near-synonyms: underbaked, dough-baked (dated)
   • The casserole was half-baked, but I choked it down anyway to be polite.
   • When the casserole is half-baked, get started on preparing the side dishes.

The neighborhood

• neighborhalf-measure
• neighborneed more time in the oven