half-assed (attempt/approach)
Meaning(s)
1. something done with little care or effort
Popularity
High
Professional
High
Social
How to Memorize
do a half-assed job at something
Analysis
To do something half-assed it means to do something with very little care or effort, usually completing the bare minimum or doing something in a sloppy or careless way. slang. A half-assed attempt or half-assed approach means to confront a problem or project with little or no care or effort. This expression is extremely informal, even vulgar and should only be used in informal situations.
Social Examples (Basic)
- The mechanic must have done a pretty half-assed job of fixing my car. It broke down again a week later.
- Don't pay any attention to what David was saying. It's just another one of his half-assed ideas for getting rich quick.
Professional Examples (Basic)
- I gave my client a list of exercises to do, but she only made a half-assed attempt at a few of them before just giving up.
- The team took such a half-assed approach to planning the project that it's little wonder it turned out as badly as it did.