Hunt and peck

Definitions

• typing style
  Describes the inefficient and slow typing style where the typist looks for each key before pressing it

• search method
  Refers to a haphazard or disorganized way of searching for something, often without a clear plan or direction

Examples of Hunt and peck

• She types like she's hunting and pecking at the keyboard.

  When someone types using only their index fingers, without looking at the keys, it's called hunting and pecking. This phrase comes from the image of a hunter firing a shotgun, hoping to hit the target with one lucky peck. This user types in a slow and inefficient way, like a hunter blindly shooting.

• I'm not much of a touch typist, I still hunt and peck sometimes.

  Some people can type quickly and accurately by feel, without looking at the keys (known as touch typing). However, this user still occasionally reverts to hunting and pecking, due to lack of practice or familiarity with a new keyboard layout.

• His typing is painfully slow, as he hunts and pecks at the keys.

  This user's typing speed is slow and frustrating. The phrase "hunts and pecks" suggests a lack of efficiency or finesse, like a hunter blindly firing shots.

• She claims to be a touch typist, but I've caught her hunting and pecking a few times.

  This user claims to be an expert touch typist, but has been observed typing inconsistently using the hunt and peck method. This could be due to lack of practice, or possibly deception on their part.

• She types slowly and methodically, using the hunt and peck method to navigate the keyboard.

  The phrase "hunt and peck" refers to the technique of typing by repeatedly pressing individual keys with the index fingers, much like hunting for food and pecking at it. It is contrasted with touch typing, which involves memorizing keyboard layouts and typing without looking at the keys.

• The novice writer pecked furiously at the keys, unsure of which letter came next.

  In this example, the subject types as quickly as she can with the hunt and peck method, but still makes mistakes because she isn't confident in her key selection.

• The old computer sat gathering dust, its keys worn and creaking from years of hunt and peck typing.

  This example uses the phrase in a descriptive sense, indicating that the computer has seen heavy use over the years, with its keys worn down from repeated pressing by inexperienced typists.

• The text message read jjssllffll, a product of the sender's hunt and peck technique on a tiny phone screen.

  Here, the phrase is used to explain the haphazard, error-prone nature of text messages sent by people who type using the hunt and peck method on small devices like smartphones.

Conclusion

The idiom "hunt and peck" can be used to describe both a typing style and a search method. When used to describe typing, it refers to a slow and inefficient way of typing where the typist looks for each key before pressing it. In the context of searching for something, it describes a haphazard or disorganized approach without a clear plan or direction.

Origin of "Hunt and peck"

The origin of the idiom "hunt and peck" can be traced back to the 1940s, when it first appeared in reference to the inefficient typing style. The term "hunt" refers to the act of searching for keys on the keyboard, while "peck" refers to the action of tapping or striking the keys. Over time, the idiom has also been used to describe a similarly disorganized approach to searching for something, likely due to the association with the haphazard typing style. Examples of this idiom can be found in literature, such as in novels or articles discussing typing techniques.