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I understand what 'cock' means.. but I'd like to make sure I clearly understand the action.

(This is a comic book kind of setting)

So the situation is a guy is sitting in a rocket in countdown, with helmet on..

He cocks his helmet to the side as he hears something outside..(as in surprised way).

My guess was he lifts helmet up and hold it to his side... or he just tilts the helmet upward still having the helmet on...

Could anyone give me correct answer please?

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possible duplicate of Is the phrase "all to c**k" considered profane?. It's the same basic definition - the verb cock means to move something from its usual alignment or kilter, to set it askew, askant or awry. In this case, the helmet is still on the head, but tilted at an angle. – FumbleFingers Jun 7 '12 at 15:04
Have you looked the verb cock up in the dictionary? What did you find? – Hugo Jun 7 '12 at 16:05

closed as general reference by FumbleFingers, JeffSahol, Mahnax, Hugo, tchrist Jun 7 '12 at 16:42

This question is too basic; it can be definitively and permanently answered by a single link to a standard internet reference source designed specifically to find that type of information. See the FAQ for guidance on how to improve it.

1 Answer

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This should definitely come from a comic book or a novel because people don't talk this descriptive in real life.

Anyway, to answer your question, it absolutely has to be your second idea.

It doesn't mean "upwards" though. The Verb "Cock" means "to tilt or slant to one side."

It's more common to say "He cocks his head." But because the helmet here is bulky and partly hinders the free movement of the soldier's head, this happens: "He cocks his helmet."

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Just to clarify... so he's tilting the head/helmet without holding it with hands? or tilting the helmet with his hands? (bear with me and understand I'm not English native) – megaboy Jun 7 '12 at 15:27
Don't worry about it, Megaboy. I understand ;-) It's absolutely tilting his helmet to one side WITHOUT using his hands – Cool Elf Jun 7 '12 at 15:31
Thanks a lot. both of you! – megaboy Jun 7 '12 at 15:35
If the helmet is already in the state of being tilted to one side, one might say, "His helmet is cocked to one side," (regardless of how it got that way). In the process of tilting it, however, "cocking it to one side" would probably mean it was being done with the neck, not the hands. – J.R. Jun 7 '12 at 15:37

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