Thus, in modern parlance, when a person goes off half cocked (or at half cock ), he or she is not in control of the situation.
( Thus ( , ( ( in ( modern parlance ) ) ( , ( ( when ( ( a person ) ( goes ( ( off half ) ( cocked ( -LRB- ( ( or ( at ( half cock ) ) ) -RRB- ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( , ( ( ( he or ) she ) ( ( ( is not ) ( in ( control ( of ( the situation ) ) ) ) ) . ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
(ROOT (S (ADVP (RB Thus)) (, ,) (PP (IN in) (NP (JJ modern) (NN parlance))) (, ,) (SBAR (WHADVP (WRB when)) (S (NP (DT a) (NN person)) (VP (VBZ goes) (ADJP (ADVP (IN off) (DT half)) (JJ cocked) (PRN (-LRB- -LRB-) (CC or) (FRAG (X (IN at)) (NP (DT half) (NN cock))) (-RRB- -RRB-)))))) (, ,) (NP (PRP he) (CC or) (PRP she)) (VP (VBZ is) (RB not) (PP (IN in) (NP (NP (NN control)) (PP (IN of) (NP (DT the) (NN situation)))))) (. .)))
Going of half cocked is always a good thing.
( ( Going ( of ( half cocked ) ) ) ( ( ( is always ) ( a ( good thing ) ) ) . ) )
(ROOT (S (S (VP (VBG Going) (PP (IN of) (NP (DT half) (NN cocked))))) (VP (VBZ is) (ADVP (RB always)) (NP (DT a) (JJ good) (NN thing))) (. .)))