English edit

Etymology edit

gun +‎ -happy

Adjective edit

gun-happy (comparative more gun-happy, superlative most gun-happy)

  1. (derogatory) Overly fond of and inclined to use guns or advocate gun violence.
    • 2001, Jason Manning, Gunmaster:
      I suppose he thought he could buffalo me with that gun-happy swagger of his, so that I would hasten to assure him that nothing was further from the truth.
    • 2011, Ross Macdonald, The Instant Enemy:
      “Is she gun-happy?” “Certainly not. When you're properly trained in the use of guns, you don't become gun-happy, as you call it.”
    • 2012, Carol O'Connell, The Chalk Girl: Kathy Mallory:
      'Damn cops,' said a CSI, who concentrated on the holes in the bark of a tree, the only holes not made by gun-happy rat killers.
    • 2014, James Ellroy, Perfidia:
      He was gun-happy. He shot up jukeboxes and shelves full of booze.
    • 2016, Elizabeth Hay, His Whole Life:
      Guy remarked that the cubs were lucky to be on Canadian soil rather than in the gun-happy United States, where they would be dead by now. And Lulu scoffed. "Come on" she said. "Your gun-happy Canadian neighbour just shot their mother."