'half-baked' originates from the literal process of baking, where 'half' means 'partially' and 'baked' refers to the cooking process.

The term 'half-baked' evolved from the literal sense of partially cooked food to metaphorically describe ideas or plans that are not fully developed.

Initially, it meant 'partially cooked,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'not fully thought through or developed.'