half-step

See also: half step

English

Etymology 1

Noun

half-step (plural half-steps)

1. Alternative form of half step.

Etymology 2

From half- +‎ step.

Verb

half-step (third-person singular simple present half-steps, present participle half-stepping, simple past and past participle half-stepped)

1. (slang, African-American Vernacular) To back down from; fail to follow through or complete; to be slack
2. (slang, African-American Vernacular) To fail to display full commitment, preparation, or genuineness; to be a poser; to be a fake or fraud
   • 2014 April 28, Ilya Salmanzadeh, Max Martin, Savan Kotecha, Ariana Grande, Iggy Azalea, “Problem”, in My Everything, performed by Ariana Grande and Iggy Azalea, track 2:

     No half-steppin', either you want it or you just playin' / I'm listenin' to you knowin' I can't believe what you sayin'

Derived terms

• half-stepping