Expressions used in Everyday Spoken English in Social and Professional contexts
half-assed (attempt/approach)
half-assedhalf-assed attempthalf-assed approach
Meaning(s)
1) something done with little care or effort
How to MemorizePopularity HighProfessional HighSocial
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. Ahalf-assed attemptorhalf-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.