half-ass

See also: half ass

English

Alternative forms

(Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, UK) half-arse

Etymology

See half-assed.

Pronunciation

(General American) IPA^(key): /ˈhæfæs/

Adjective

half-ass (comparative more half-ass, superlative most half-ass)

Produced in an incompetent or desultory manner, or of something lacking in quality or substance; of low rank; incompetent.
- 1969, The End of the Road by John Barth (page 155)
  the only abortion she could get even in the city would be a half-ass job by some half-ass doctor who could mess her up for the rest of her life

Translations

produced in an incompetent manner

Finnish: puolivillainen (fi)
Polish: na pół gwizdka (pl) (not vulgar)
Portuguese: feito nas coxas (informal), meia-boca (pt) (informal)
Russian: тяп-ляп (ru) (tjap-ljap) (colloquial), на объебись (na obʺjebisʹ) (vulgar)
Spanish: chapucero (es)

Verb

half-ass (third-person singular simple present half-asses, present participle half-assing, simple past and past participle half-assed)

(slang) To perform a task incompletely or carelessly. Usually considered derogatory or insulting.
- 2002, Guardians of the Eagle by John D. Messer (page 102)
  if you're working for me and I send you to do a job and you half-ass it, that reflects on me. In civilian life, we'd just fire you. Here I can't get rid of you.

Translations

to perform a task incompletely or carelessly

French: bâcler (fr)
Portuguese: fazer nas coxas (pt)