Understanding Hair-Trigger: What It Means and How It Works

Hair-trigger is a term used to describe something that is highly sensitive and can be set off or triggered very easily, often with the slightest touch or movement. The phrase is thought to have originated from the idea of a trigger being so sensitive that it could be set off by a single strand of hair.
In general, hair-trigger refers to anything that is highly responsive and can be activated quickly and easily, such as a button, a switch, or a mechanism. It can also be used to describe someone who is highly reactive and quick to act, such as a person with a short fuse.
For example, a hair-trigger reflex might be one that is so sensitive that it can be triggered by the slightest touch, while a hair-trigger temper might be one that is so short that even minor annoyances can set off an outburst of anger.