Half baked

Meaning

The idiom "half baked" means that something is not yet finished or complete, but has been started or attempted. It can also refer to a plan or idea that is still being developed or considered, but has not been fully thought through or implemented.

Usage

• The cake was half baked when I left the kitchen, so I had to finish it off before my friends arrived.
• The company's new product is still in its early stages, but they're hoping to have it on the market by next year.
• My boss was happy with the progress of the project, but he said we needed to work on some of the details before we could move forward.
• I'm not sure if this plan is going to work out, but it's worth exploring for now.
• The script for the movie isn't quite finished yet, but they're hoping to start filming soon.

Roots and History

The idiom "half baked" dates back to the 17th century, and is believed to have originated in the baking industry. When a cake was halfway through the baking process, it would be referred to as "half baked". Over time, the idiom evolved to refer to anything that was still being worked on or developed, but had not yet been completed.

Synonyms in English

• Incomplete
• Unfinished
• Not yet finalized
• Still in development
• Not yet fully implemented

Synonyms in other languages

• Inachevé (French) - means "incomplete" or "unfinished"
• 未完成的 (Japanese) - means "unfinished" or "not yet completed"
• 不完全的 (Chinese) - means "incomplete" or "not yet finished"
• 미완성인 (Korean) - means "unfinished" or "not yet fully developed"
• צורות מקוען לאמריחס (Hebrew) - means "half baked" in a metaphorical sense, meaning something that is not yet complete or finalized.

Similar Idioms

• hands are tied

• head over heels

• high time