Definition

1. Verb (intransitive):
   • To withdraw from or fail to participate in a challenging, dangerous, or intimidating situation due to fear, nervousness, or a lack of courage. It implies a last-minute decision to avoid something one had previously agreed to or considered doing.

Usage

• This verb is used informally, often in a critical or self-deprecating tone, to describe a failure of nerve. It is typically followed by the preposition "of" when specifying the avoided activity.
• It describes a voluntary action of removing oneself from an obligation or plan.

Examples

• Verb:
  • He was going to try bungee jumping, but he chickened out at the last moment.
  • Don't chicken out of the presentation now; you've prepared so well for it.
  • I said I would confront him, but I'm afraid I chickened out.

Advanced Usage

• "to chicken out of (something)": The most common construction, specifying the avoided event or action.
  • She chickened out of the dare.
• The phrase often carries a connotation of disappointment or mild contempt, either from others or from oneself.

Variants and Related Words

• Chicken (noun, informal): A cowardly person.
  • Don't be such a chicken!
• Chicken-hearted (adjective): Easily frightened; cowardly. (Less common)

Synonyms

• Back out: To withdraw from a commitment.
• Get cold feet: To suddenly become too frightened to do something one had planned to do.
• Bail out: To abandon a commitment or situation (informal).

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Bow out: To retire or withdraw gracefully from a situation. (More formal and less judgmental than "chicken out").
  • He decided to bow out of the race due to a knee injury.

Related Idioms

• Lose one's nerve: To suddenly lose courage.
  • He lost his nerve just before going on stage.
• Have a yellow streak: To be cowardly. (Archaic)
• Turn tail: To run away from danger or a confrontation.

Verb

1. remove oneself from an obligation
   • He bowed out when he heard how much work was involved