Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. to loaf, to idle, to go slowly.

1944		H. Hunt East of Farewell 173: Tonight’s our last nighty of half-stepping [...] After we’ve fuelled we’ll do twenty knots.
1984		(con. 1964–73) W. Terry Bloods (1985) 49: Davis screamed, ‘Nigger, stop half-steppin’. We gotta move.’.

2. (US black/Und.) to make a feeble effort, to act in an inappropriate or ineffectual manner.

1980		E. Folb Runnin’ Down Some Lines 42: Don’t halfstep! In other words, get yo’self together brother.
1986		The Real Roxanne ‘Bang Zoom’ 🎵 There is no half-steppin’, you must be wholehearted.
1992		Bentley & Corbett Prison Sl. 15: Half Steppin’ A feeble attempt at doing something. This can apply to paying debts, sports participation, prison jobs or associations with other prisoners.
1994		P. Baker Blood Posse 139: He knew there was no half stepping, either he killed me or he left me alone.
2004		N. Kelley ‘The Code’ in Brooklyn Noir 181: You gonna be hard, be hard all the way. No half-steppin’.
2004		(con. 1960s-70s) T. Taylor Top Fellas 28/1: Anything less would be half-stepping and half-stepping doesn’t get it done.
2011		Styles P ‘We Don’t Play’ 🎵 Most men just half-step, I ride hard.
2014		Wiley ‘Busy’ 🎵 With my whole team in a studio session / [...] No half stepping.

3. (US black) to make promises, e.g. of sexual favours, that are not carried through.

1983		K-9 Corp. ‘Dog Talk’ 🎵 Time for love, no time for half-steppin’ / Rudolph Valentino is my secret weapon.
2002		‘Touré’ Portable Promised Land (ms.) 159: We Words (My Favorite Things) [...] Ain’t no half-steppin. Ain’t mad at ya.

4. (US black) to sneak up on.

2000

Ebonics Primer at www.dolemite.com 🌐 half-stepping Definition: to sneak up on someone. Example: Yo, I was all half-steppin up on that nigga before I popped a cap in him.